I'll try to give three (out of MANY things) that went wrong.
1) The pressure from the midfield was horrible
We started with Coquelin as the holding midfielder and Rocisky and Ramsey in front of him. While most people were worried about him, he actually did quite well. I know that some people have a hard time figuring out how a defensive player on a team that lets 8 (EIGHT!!) goals won't get flunked. Bu he worked hard, won his share of tackles and interceptions before he was substituted (an I'll get back to that HUGE mistake) and replaced wit Chamberlain.
Earlier I have mentioned and criticised the total lack of pressure on the opponents from our players, and especially Rosicky and Ramsey. Any oh boy, yesterday was no different. A LOT of times you could see Ramsey walking around watching football while United-players passed and combined in front of our defence, while Coquelin single-handedly tried to cover the area where there were always 2-3 United-players. And this was already happening before the break!
As ZonalMarking described it:
The problem with pressing meant that Arsenal frequently had no pressure on the ball in midfield – despite the fact that they could afford Coquelin sitting, because Aaron Ramsey and Tomas Rosicky could close down Anderson and Tom Cleverley. Somehow, and again arguably due to fitness reasons, this failed – Anderson and Cleverley got time on the ball and could hit passes over the top.
Must be said, that I don't really buy the fitness-excuse. Again, this was happening in the first half. I really cannot understand how such a problem can occur against United. Why aren't the players chasing the ball and closing down space? One theory is that it is a result of Wenger's lack of punishment when players don't perform or work hard enough. We've seen the same thing with Diaby, who's laziness has cost us so many times. We do have som hard working midfielers, especially in Wilshere and Song, but the work ethic MUST be a team thing, as it is at the opponent who just beat the crap out of us.
I really hope that a new midfielder can solve some of the problem, but I'm getting afraid the root of the problem lies with Wenger, and the culture.
2) Wengers tactical choices
As I've said before, Wenger is really not a strong tactician. This is clear when observing the lack of defensive structure, the unorganized pressure and the use of playmaking wings in situations where we need the deep runs to stretch the opponent. And most obvious of it all it can be seen when he makes substitutions.
Yesterday he (again) made a horrible mistake. After 62 minutes (3-1 to United) he substituted Coquelin with Chamberlain. With the problems Ramsey and Rosicky caused in the defence, it was no surprise that it would be disasterous. In app. 30 minutes we conceded 5 (FIVE!) goals, which could have been 7-8 goals, had it not been for Szczesny. Instantly space opened up, and United had even more space in front of our defence.
He has done something similar before. In games where we need to wing the midfield battles, he withdraws the hard workers and replace them with offensive players - and often without any idea about how they should be organized.
Again we were punished.
3) Clinical finishing...?
To be fair we have never been clinical in front of goal. Even when we were the best team in the Premiership we wasted many chances. Yesterday we had eight shots on target, and created two goals. 25% of SoT converted to goals. United had 14 SoT and scored 8 - 57%. So far in the league, we've had an average of four SoT per game.
Before people stated, that while we weren't able to defend well, we were brilliant in the offence. Now even tha last part is untrue.
I'm about to lose confidence in Wenger entirely, to be honest.
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