3 Reasons why Arsenal failed to beat Sporting Lisbon

Arsenal reserved their place in the Europa League knockout stage despite a 0-0 draw against the Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon on Thursday night. That they maintained an unbeaten run extending it to 15 games now is also commendable. Danny Welbeck who has been a star performer for the Gunners in Europa League was injured in the first half, an injury that looked serious as he had to be stretchered down the tunnel with deep pain.

Gunners were the better side throughout the game but they were not able to test the opposition goalkeeper. Welbeck’s injury really slowed down the game and looked like the Gunners were mentally lost in the game.

Unai Emery told after the match that the injury looks serious and that there will be tests done to ascertain the results and extent of the injury. After winning 11 matches on the run, Gunners have had it tough by drawing 3 of the last 4 matches. But the performance against Liverpool would give them the required confidence going into the next games.

We take a look at three reasons why Gunners felt short in getting a result.

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#1 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s lack of clinical finishing

Aubameyang scuppered many chances

Arsenal struggled to get into top gear against Sporting, but they did have decent chances to snatch a win that would have guaranteed a top spot in the group.

Aubameyang replaced the injured Welbeck towards the end of the first half but saw three good chances wasted. A striker with the calibre of Aubameyang should have taken those chances easily. But the lack of playing time leading the front line played spoilsport if we think from the Gabonese's point of view. Lacazette has been the preferred choice of central striker for the Gunners and Aubameyang plays on the left of a front three.

Even Martin Keown was critical of Aubameyang’s finishing. According to Keown, Aubameyang is the closest thing to Thierry Henry and he has to start living up to those expectations.

#2 Danny Welbeck’s injury

Danny Welbeck suffered a gruesome leg injury

Nani, the former teammate of Welbeck was the first to go near him when he was lying in pain on the Emirates turf. The injury looked serious as Welbeck was given oxygen on field. Support came pouring on Twitter with the likes of Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla, both extending their support and hoping for a speedy recovery.

Arsenal were looking like a side on a mission in the first half before the injury to Welbeck, which took away the momentum. The timing of the injury was also something that didn’t work in the Gunners’ favour. Had the injury taken place in the second half, maybe Arsenal could have scored the winner by then. It is bad luck for Welbeck as he had been included in the England squad by Gareth Southgate.

Unai Emery would hope that Welbeck is back to fitness to play during the busy schedule in December where the matches will come thick and fast and Welbeck’s work rate gives Unai an opportunity to rotate the strikers properly keeping everyone fresh.

#3 Complacency

Arsenal lacked the drive they had been displaying over the last two months

The fact that the Gunners were on a 14-match unbeaten run coming into this match could have made them a little complacent which is possible as they never had such run in the past 2-3 years. The result against Liverpool can act as a negative too, as Arsenal, a team that is punching higher than its weight can be brought down to reality soon.

Ozil was not included in the matchday squad by Emery and that shows how confident he was of beating Sporting. The Spaniard has to keep the squad players happy as well as fit if he wants to win a trophy in his first season. Ramsey’s role has to be properly defined as he was not making the darting runs he usually makes late into the penalty box.

The fact that even Guendouzi likes to go forward on occasions made it impossible for Ramsey to continuously look for a scoring opportunity.