LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 24: Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal scores his team’s second goal during the UEFA Europa League group F match between Arsenal FC and Vitoria Guimaraes at Emirates Stadium on October 24, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
Arsenal hosted Vitoria SC in their third Europa League group game on Thursday night. Here are five things we learned from the 3-2 win.
In one of the weirdest and murkiest matches that I have seen in a long time, Arsenal somehow rescued their 100% record in the Europa League with a last-gasp 3-2 victory over Vitoria SC on Thursday night. After a lacklustre 80 minutes in which the Gunners offered very little, they have only one man to thank for saving their bacon: Nicolas Pepe and his magical left foot. The Ivorian curled two beautiful freekicks to haul his team from 2-1 down and earn an unlikely 3-2 victory in the dying seconds.
Here are five things we learned.
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 24: Unai Emery, Manager of Arsenal reacts during the UEFA Europa League group F match between Arsenal FC and Vitoria Guimaraes at Emirates Stadium on October 24, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
5. What formation was it?
I like to watch games with a tactical slant. I enjoy breaking down the different systems of the opposing teams, working out their relative strengths and weaknesses and recognising where the game was won and lost. I like to think I can diagnose a team’s formation relatively quickly and accurately. But even by half-time, I had no idea what formation Arsenal were playing.
I think it started out as a 4-2-3-1 with Emile Smith Rowe behind Alexandre Lacazette. Then Gabriel Martinelli, who was playing on the left, moved up front to partner Lacazette. It briefly resembled a 4-4-2 diamond with Lucas Torreira pushed high up the pitch. Then it switched to a flat 4-4-2, Ainsley Maitland-Niles on the right and Smith Rowe moved to the left. In reality, I still do not know what it was. And I am not sure the players did either.
Arsenal’s performance was painfully disjointed and disconnected. Their spacing in possession was all wrong, limiting options for the person on the ball, and there were gaping chasms all over the pitch for Vitoria to exploit on the counter-attack, which they duly enjoyed. It was utterly bizarre, and very concerning indeed.
Arsenal somehow rescued their 100% record in the Europa League with <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/24/arsenal-vs-vitoria-sc-5-things-learned-nicolas-pepe-papers-cracks/"https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50159121">a last-gasp 3-2 victory over Vitoria SC on Thursday night</a>. After a lacklustre 80 minutes in which the Gunners offered very little, they have only one man to thank for saving their bacon: Nicolas Pepe and his magical left foot. The Ivorian curled two beautiful freekicks to haul his team from 2-1 down and earn an unlikely 3-2 victory in the dying seconds.</p>
<h2><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/24/arsenal-vs-vitoria-sc-5-things-learned-nicolas-pepe-papers-cracks/"https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/pain-in-the-arsenal-podcast-on-arsenal-fc/id1314514440?ign-mpt=uo%3D4%26amp%3Buo%3D4&mt=2%22>Find the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal Podcast here — The Unai Emery One</a></h2>
<p>Here are five things we learned.</p>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-94615" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/24/arsenal-vs-vitoria-sc-5-things-learned-nicolas-pepe-papers-cracks/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1183204462-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 24: Unai Emery, Manager of Arsenal reacts during the UEFA Europa League group F match between Arsenal FC and Vitoria Guimaraes at Emirates Stadium on October 24, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>5. What formation was it?</h4>
<p>I like to watch games with a tactical slant. I enjoy breaking down the different systems of the opposing teams, working out their relative strengths and weaknesses and recognising where the game was won and lost. I like to think I can diagnose a team’s formation relatively quickly and accurately. But even by half-time, I had no idea what formation Arsenal were playing.</p>
<p>I think it started out as a 4-2-3-1 with Emile Smith Rowe behind Alexandre Lacazette. Then Gabriel Martinelli, who was playing on the left, moved up front to partner Lacazette. It briefly resembled a 4-4-2 diamond with Lucas Torreira pushed high up the pitch. Then it switched to a flat 4-4-2, Ainsley Maitland-Niles on the right and Smith Rowe moved to the left. In reality, I still do not know what it was. And I am not sure the players did either.</p>
<p>Arsenal’s performance was painfully disjointed and disconnected. Their spacing in possession was all wrong, limiting options for the person on the ball, and there were gaping chasms all over the pitch for Vitoria to exploit on the counter-attack, which they duly enjoyed. It was utterly bizarre, and very concerning indeed.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/24/arsenal-vs-vitoria-sc-5-things-learned-nicolas-pepe-papers-cracks/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 4. Smith Rowe, Martinelli bright </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-94629" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/24/arsenal-vs-vitoria-sc-5-things-learned-nicolas-pepe-papers-cracks/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1183227944-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 24: Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal battles for possession with Victor Garcia and Mikel Agu of Vitoria Guimaraes during the UEFA Europa League group F match between Arsenal FC and Vitoria Guimaraes at Emirates Stadium on October 24, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>4. Smith Rowe, Martinelli bright</h4>
<p>Not many Arsenal players played particularly well on Thursday night, but if any are deserving of special recognition, bar Nicolas Pepe and his game-saving achievements, it is <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/24/arsenal-vs-vitoria-sc-5-things-learned-nicolas-pepe-papers-cracks/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=gabriel+martinelli%22>Gabriel Martinelli</a> and<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/24/arsenal-vs-vitoria-sc-5-things-learned-nicolas-pepe-papers-cracks/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=emile+smith+rowe%22> Emile Smith Rowe</a>, the two most vibrant and potent attacking players for much of the game.</p>
<p>Martinelli scored the first goal with his third header of the season. He now has five goals in three starts in all competitions. He was a livewire throughout, especially when moved into a central position, and his nose for danger was evident, the off-ball movement fabulous to watch as he searches out space in and around the penalty area.</p>
<p>Smith Rowe, meanwhile, was tidy in possession and direct when dribbling. His first touch was superb all night, always aware of how he could manipulate it to best position himself to move forwards. He should have scored midway through the second half but his overall attacking play was very encouraging. More of the same, please.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/24/arsenal-vs-vitoria-sc-5-things-learned-nicolas-pepe-papers-cracks/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 3. The Ainsley Maitland-Niles death knell? </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-94614" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/24/arsenal-vs-vitoria-sc-5-things-learned-nicolas-pepe-papers-cracks/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1183206892-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 24: Denis-Will Poha of Vitoria Guimaraes and Ainsley Maitland-Niles of Arsenal battle for the ball during the UEFA Europa League group F match between Arsenal FC and Vitoria Guimaraes at Emirates Stadium on October 24, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>3. The Ainsley Maitland-Niles death knell?</h4>
<p>When Unai Emery arrived at Arsenal, one of the players named as someone who he would look to build the team around was<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/24/arsenal-vs-vitoria-sc-5-things-learned-nicolas-pepe-papers-cracks/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=ainsley+maitland-niles%22> Ainsley Maitland-Niles</a>. Emery impressed the Arsenal board with his detailed approach to the interview, with Maitland-Niles name highlighted as a key one. But this season, it has only been downhill for the now 22-year-old.</p>
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<p>Maitland-Niles started the season as the first-choice right-back amid Hector Belleirn’s recovery from a torn ACL. He lost that place to Calum Chambers after a sending off against Aston Villa. He then tried to tell everyone, for the umpteenth time, that he is a midfielder, not a defender, but he is yet to prove as such.</p>
<p>And after all this, Maitland-Niles put in his worst performance of the year — and perhaps of his Arsenal career entirely. There was the wayward touch that led directly to the second goal. That was bad enough. But beyond that one poor moment, his overall play was extremely poor, especially the positions he took up.</p>
<p>Was he playing as a right-winger a number 10 or an anchoring midfielder? You would be hard-pressed to provide a good answer. His pass success rate was just 71%, he provided little defensive cover for Hector Bellerin, and was rightly hooked at half-time. This might just spell the end of Maitland-Niles as a first-team player for some time.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/24/arsenal-vs-vitoria-sc-5-things-learned-nicolas-pepe-papers-cracks/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 2. Unai Emery has some questions to answer </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 24: Mikel Agu of Vitoria Guimaraes battles for possession with Joe Willock of Arsenal during the UEFA Europa League group F match between Arsenal FC and Vitoria Guimaraes at Emirates Stadium on October 24, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>2. Unai Emery has some questions to answer</h4>
<p>This was not a very good performance. Vitoria had more shots, more shots on target, forced more saves, were resolute defensively and rarely troubled throughout the match, and created the higher quality chances. In the end, they had 17 shots, five of which were on target. If you are wondering, that is not very good.</p>
<p>There are many reasons for Arsenal’s painfully unhinged performance. But one of the key ones is the role of <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/24/arsenal-vs-vitoria-sc-5-things-learned-nicolas-pepe-papers-cracks/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=unai+emery%22>Unai Emery</a> and his tactics. Firstly, what formation was he playing in the first half? Does anyone know, because the players certainly did not? And then, even with a confused, nigh-on non-existent system, he used the wrong players in the wrong positions, again.</p>
<p>Ainsley Maitland-Niles was shipped all over the shop, Joe Willock is apparently an anchoring midfielder after playing as a number 10 just three days ago, hauled off at half-time for abject performances on both occasions, though that is very much not his fault, Gabriel Martinelli is a half-winger, half-striker, while Lucas Torreira was essentially played as a number 10 for the whole of the second half after showing little positional restraint and understanding in the first. Emery has some serious questions to answer, and I am not sure he can.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/24/arsenal-vs-vitoria-sc-5-things-learned-nicolas-pepe-papers-cracks/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 1. Welcome, the real Nicolas Pepe </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 24: Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal scores his team’s third goal past Miguel Silva of Vitoria Guimaraes during the UEFA Europa League group F match between Arsenal FC and Vitoria Guimaraes at Emirates Stadium on October 24, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>1. Welcome, the real Nicolas Pepe</h4>
<p>When Arsenal signed Lille winger <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/24/arsenal-vs-vitoria-sc-5-things-learned-nicolas-pepe-papers-cracks/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=nicolas+pepe%22>Nicolas Pepe</a> for £72 million in the summer, they were looking for a dynamic, explosive, quick, skilful, goalscoring, creative match-winner. So far this season, that is not what they have had. But on Thursday night, that could not be further from the case.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p>Unai Emery turned to Pepe in the 74th minute. Pepe delivered. His first moment of brilliance came five minutes later. Standing over a wide freekick, the Ivorian feigned a near-post effort and instead whipped his shot into the far corner, the goalkeeper shifting his weight behind the wall and unable to recover his position. From that moment on, Pepe changed completely.</p>
<p>He immediately brough the ball down in the penalty area, beat a defender, dummied a backheel and had a shot blocked. Then he teed up Rob Holding with another freekick from a similar position on the pitch. Then he whipped in a dangerous cross from the right flank, almost setting up another chance. And then, to top it all off, in the 92nd minute, he did what he was signed to do: win matches. Another freekick, this time more centrally, but with the same result, whipped into the top corner.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Arsenal Vs Vitoria: 5 things we learned" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/24/arsenal-vs-vitoria-sc-player-ratings-welcome-nicolas-pepe/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/24/arsenal-vs-vitoria-sc-5-things-learned-nicolas-pepe-papers-cracks/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/10/24/arsenal-vs-vitoria-sc-player-ratings-welcome-nicolas-pepe/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Arsenal Vs Vitoria: 5 things we learned </a> </div>
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<p>This is the real Nicolas Pepe, the one that is worth £72 million. Now, he just has to replicate it.</p><!—pageview_candidate—></p>">
