Arsene Wenger was absolutely livid with his side’s defensive performance against Norwich City at the Emirates on Saturday.
The Gunners had two one-goal leads erased by Wesley Hoolahan (12′) and Steve Morison (85′) en route to a 3-3 draw with the Premier League newcomers.
It was a six-goal thriller to say the least, with Steve Morison silencing the Gunners’ supporters after netting a late equaliser for the Canaries.
“It was five or six mistakes in the same goal,” Wenger told the club’s official website.
“We created at least 10 chances but again not only did we not take our chances, but on top of that we gave them a third goal in a situation that was absolutely unbelievable. In the end we got punished for our mistakes.”
Saturday wasn’t the first time that Arsenal have been punished for defensive mistakes. In fact, the Gunners’ early season woes were predominantly due to horrendous defending.
It seems like a distant memory, or nightmare, but recall that Wenger’s side conceded eight goals at Old Trafford on 28 August 2011.
However, the Gunners have been a different side since the return of France international Bacary Sagna. With that said, Arsenal will be without their reliable right-back after the Frenchman fractured his right leg in Saturday’s clash with Norwich City.
In addition to missing the remainder of the 2011-12 English Premier League campaign, Sagna has already been ruled out of the 2012 European Championships which will take place in Poland and Ukraine this summer.
What does Sagna’s loss mean to Arsenal?
For one thing, Arsenal must now rely on Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United to drop points in their remaining games in order to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season.
All things considered, the Gunners still have a great chance to finish in third or fourth place because Newcastle United play host to table toppers Manchester City tomorrow, with Mancini’s men the obvious favorites to take three points at the Sports Direct Arena.
However, if both Spurs and the Magpies tally three points on Sunday, Arsenal will be left one point adrift of fourth place.
With Sagna out for the season, Arsenal will need to find a replacement by 13 May, when they are scheduled to take on West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.
Laurent Koscielny looks like Sagna’s replacement at the moment. The Frenchman got some spot duty at right-back earlier in 2011-12 and performed satisfactorily.
Wenger will need a big performance from his back four on 13 May because Albion are no slouches.
Look for West Brom to attack whoever Arsenal deploy at right-back.
Will Arsenal qualify for next season’s Champions League?
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