ARSENAL boasted their lowest-ever possession tally in the mauling at the hands of Leicester on Sunday. The Gunners – reduced to ten men in the first half after Ainsley Maitland-Niles was sent-off – mustered just 32.81 per cent of the ball in the 3-0 loss. In defeat, Arsenal saw their top-four aspirations take another major […]
ARSENAL boasted their lowest-ever possession tally in the mauling at the hands of Leicester on Sunday.
The Gunners – reduced to ten men in the first half after Ainsley Maitland-Niles was sent-off – mustered just 32.81 per cent of the ball in the 3-0 loss.
In defeat, Arsenal saw their top-four aspirations take another major hit in what was one of their worst on-the-ball performances ever.
Since records began in 2003-04 – their “Invincibles season – Arsenal have never held less than 35 per cent of the ball… until their day at the King Power Stadium.
Their previous worst tally was in the 2014-15 season when they earned just 35.33 per cent of the ball in their 2-0 win over Manchester City.
Incredibly, THREE of Arsenal’s worst-ever performances, possession-wise, have been this season under Unai Emery.
The Gunners held just 35.71 per cent of the ball in the 2-0 win over Chelsea, while picking up just 37.72 per cent in the 3-2 loss – also against the Blues – in the reverse fixture.
But the result against Leicester pushed Arsenal fans over the edge after Emery claimed he was “proud” of his players despite the result.
Emery said: “Our game-plan was to be strong. Today in our defensive moments and attacking moments we didn’t take our chances. We started very well.
“The idea was to control with possession. We wanted to be competitive. The second yellow card gave us a lot of problems.
“We knew it was going to very difficult at the start of the season. I am proud of my players.”
But fans were quick to slam the unambitious Spaniard, with one tweeting: “Next time, just come out and say that we played c**p.
“Call out individuals who played poorly, don’t shield them.”
Another added: “Emery saying we played well and he’s proud of the players ffs. Type of thing Wenger would come out with.
“These players need a kick up the a*** not a f***ing cuddle.”
A third said: “In no way am I blaming Emery for that loss, but to say he’s ‘proud of the players’ is disgusting.
“We’ve just lost 3-0 I don’t want that Pochettino mentality of calling your players heroes after embarrassing themselves.”
