Arsenal fans took to Twitter to slate Emery and Koscielny after bizarre substitution
Usually, when your team is going into the second half 1-0 down, bringing on a central defender isn’t the done thing. However, that’s exactly what Unai Emery did last night as he opted to make the half-time switch of bringing off Henrikh Mkhitaryan for Laurent Koscielny, and the fans were as confused as they were irritated by it.
We move to at the back with Lolo joining Sokratis and Granit in defence
@HenrikhMkh made way for our captain at half-time
0-1 (46)#CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/j8E54PDegX
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) 19 December 2018
Koscielny was beyond woeful when he took to the pitch on Sunday against Southampton and yesterday, whilst he was better than his Saints showing, he still wasn’t great. However, it was the fact that Unai Emery had opted to send his skipper on to play in a back three, leaving Granit Xhaka playing as a central defender, that confused the fans the most, as they’d rather have seen the Swiss midfielder take up a more advanced role.
In the end, the night at The Emirates was one to forget for the Gunners and the changes and decisions made by Emery on the night can be put down to experimentation considering it was in the Carabao Cup and not in the Premier League, where every point matters. Although, the fans will be still be fuming at this one as they’ve given up bragging rights to the old enemy until their next meeting in February.
You can read the Gunners’ thoughts on the Koscielny sub here:
Confusion
— E.M.M.A.N.U.E.L (@icebergslimjoe) December 19, 2018
Why are we going defensive when we’re losing
— A (@ftblAndrei_) 19 December 2018
announce 6-0 defeat
— umar (@omster789) December 19, 2018
Send Xhaka back to the midfield pls
— wilshere johnson (@wilshere240) December 19, 2018
Another 3 goals for Tottenham incoming. Koscielny is past it. Move on!
— #HumbleYourself cause we’re MLS champs [11-2] (@AddictedToUGA) 19 December 2018
Lolo is no more fit for this team. Pls he should be dropped
— Eze Nwokoma (@EzeNwokoma1) December 20, 2018
This guy is done. reached expiry date.
— Ross Flex (@flex_bw) 20 December 2018
I think it's time for him to retire.
— PINKI (@dollypinki) December 19, 2018
The Gunners were rightly fuming at this change and will hope that Emery gets it right in the Premier League when his side faces Burnley in two days time.
