Former Arsenal defender Alex Scott believes Unai Emery’s team selection was the downfall of the Gunners against Everton.
Arsenal missed the chance to rise to third in the table after suffering a 1-0 defeat at Goodison Park, with Phil Jagielka bundling home the only goal of the game in the opening minutes.
Emery ’s team selection for the match raised eyebrows, with Mohamed Elneny awarded a rare start while Aaron Ramsey and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, two of the club’s most important players this season, were left on the bench.
Both Ramsey and Aubameyang were introduced at the break in an attempt to turn the tide of the game in the second half but Scott believes the damage was done at that point, questioning why Emery went with the side he did.
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“I think playing a three at the back played into Everton’s hands today. They were exploiting those spaces in the channels,” she told Sky Sports.
“Then you’ve got the likes of Lacazette and Aubameyang, they’ve scored most of Arsenal’s goals. If you’re looking to start both of them, you’re pressing Everton high and taking the game to them.
“Here, they allowed Everton to play those balls. You could see they were growing in confidence every single time because Arsenal couldn’t get possession or get control of the ball. Everton fans were loving it because they looked totally in control.
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“Then in the second half you’re chasing the game. You’ve got players like Mkhitaryan, they’re going for the ball but not reacting defensively. That’s why I’m frustrated because I think Arsenal could have started that way and then it’s a completely different game.”
Arsenal face four more challenging away matches before the end of the season, with trips to tackle Watford, Wolves, Leicester City and Burnley on the cards, as well has home ties against Crystal Palace and Brighton.
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