Was it a defining result in our season or merely a blip in a one-off knockout game? Either way, Arsenal's 3-0 defeat by Sheffield Wednesday in the Capital One Cup was simply embarrassing.
It wasn't so much the result that hurts, as we all know shocks can happen in cup football, but more the manner of the performance. Some blame manager Arsene Wenger for his team selection saying he should have picked a stronger team. But then, if we had picked a much stronger team and won comfortably, some fans would have undoubtedly moaned saying 'why didn't Wenger rest players in this smaller game?'. I think blaming the team selection is a poor excuse as, whilst not as experienced, the starting XI at Hillsborough should still have been good enough to produce a far better performance than the one us Gunners' fans were given.
Losing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and substitute Theo Walcott to injury inside the opening 20 minutes didn't exactly help, but we shouldn't hide behind that excuse either. Without disrespecting Sheffield Wednesday, the side we put out really should have been more than capable of getting a victory.
We just need to simply hold our hands up and admit we were beaten by the better side on the day. Although, it is really frustrating to admit that as we should have done much better, Wednesday were more than worthy of their win and their place in the next round of the tournament.
What is most important now is that we put this down as a bad day at the office and quickly move on from it. We are already out of the Capital One Cup and our Champions League adventure is hanging by a thread. But we are actually performing well in the league and only trail leaders Manchester City on goal difference. What we don't want is for the cup exit to dent the confidence and affect the league form or we risk the season spiralling away from us in an all too familiar fashion. But it shouldn't come down to that and it is in our own control. If we can get maximum points at Swansea in our next game we can get things back on track and maybe, just maybe, still have a decent season.
Arsenal's night started as it ended - in frustration. Oxlade-Chamberlain lasted just five minutes before having to leave the field injured and his replacement, Walcott, lasted less than 15 minutes. But at that point in the game neither side was really creating many chances or stamping their authority on the game.
With neither goalkeeper having had much to do Wednesday suddenly took the lead through Ross Wallace after 27 minutes. Daniel Pudil pulled the ball back for Wallace to score from the edge of the area.
Although Arsenal had some youth in their side, the experienced players who did play should have made their presence count more but they didn't and the Gunners midfield, especially, was really lacking in ideas.
Alex Iwobi, who was making his first-team debut for Arsenal, sent a shot just off target for the visitors but, in truth, Arsenal didn't test young Wednesday goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith enough.
Wednesday doubled their advantage five minutes before the break. Petr Cech managed to save Jeremy Helan's effort but was unable to prevent Lucas Joao from heading home the resulting corner.
At half-time I knew defeat was looking likely but I at least expected some kind of response in the second half. We had already been forced into using two of our three substitutions in the first half but I still thought we would provide an attacking response in the second half. Instead we still looked void of ideas and, other than one great save from Wildsmith, we didn't really look close to scoring.
So rather than playing attractive attacking football in an attempt to get back into the game, we ended up conceding a third goal within six minutes of the restart. Tom Lees latched onto Barry Bannan's free-kick before knocking the ball across for Sam Hutchinson to score from close range.
I had previously been a bit excited about the prospect of Polish youngster Krystian Bielik coming off the bench to make his debut as I had heard very positive things about him. But by the time he entered the field on the hour mark the game was already over and, although he showed one or two nice touches, it was difficult to really analyse his performance as the team performance had been poor.
As the game entered its final quarter Arsenal finally appeared to wake up and nearly grabbed a consolation goal, but Wildsmith produced an excellent save to keep out Per Mertesacker's header. That was as near as Arsenal came to a response in a day that belonged solely to their Yorkshire opponents. Wednesday were more than worthy of the victory, while the Gunners need a huge improvement if they are to get their season back on track.
OPPOSITION VIEW
Owls' fan Jim Capel was delighted by the result and is hoping his side get to pit their wits against the likes of Arsenal again in the not too distant future.
"Ordinarily, I would look at this fixture with a sense of impending doom and would be lumping my hard-earned cash on a cricket score in favour of the boys from North London," said Capel. "Recently however, I have found a new sense of optimism.
"Being a Wednesdayite hasn’t been the best for your mental health over the last 15 years, since relegation from the Premier League, with only the odd glimmer of hope amongst the endless frustration and misery. But now, enter Carlos Carvalhal and his “dream” (according to our chant). 15 new players, strength in depth and a genuinely competitive side in the Championship, just could signal light at the end of the tunnel."
"And so to the game, and how true does that statement ring! From minute one, we looked comfortable. We weren’t overawed by our more illustrious opponents. We had come to do a job and my god did we do it! Yes we got a bit of good fortune with “the Ox” and Walcott having to go off injured, but in truth you can’t take anything away from this performance.
"If you’d told me at the start of tonight that we would win this, I’d have said you were mad. If you’d said we would win this comfortably, I’d have told you to seek professional help!
"With this team, and this philosophy, could we be crossing swords with the likes of this calibre of opposition again on a regular basis next season…….the way things are going, you just never know!"
Fellow Wednesdayite Bob Timmons also felt his side were worthy winners, adding: "A weakened arsenal team struggled to break down an inform Wednesday.
"The game desperately needed a goal as the first 20 minutes was arsenal passing the ball between the defence without carving any real openings.
"The Owls worked hard and scored with their first real chance with a quality finish. I felt Arsenal then struggled to break the Owls down and a spirited performance, as well as two more good goals combined with some decent football, allowed them to cruise to the quarter finals.
"I think the two arsenal injuries to the Ox and Walcott early on set the tone for the Gunners, who had little pace left on the pitch to carve open the defence. Certainly a memorable one where you can say 'I was there'. Looking for another home tie in the next round. Up the Owls."
MY FINAL THOUGHTS
We got what we deserved at Hillsborough with a defeat but we must make sure we don't do that again. Whether it was due to us seemingly not taking the Capital One Cup seriously or simply just a bad day at the office it can't be repeated. With a huge game at Swansea, who did the double over us last season, looming we can't afford any more slip-ups if we are to have a decent season. That is easier said than done with the Liberty Stadium, among the toughest away trips outside the top four. I don't just say this because we have them next as I genuinely feel the Swans are a very tough nut to crack on their own turf for any side in the league.
Although some will expect us to fail at Swansea again, there is also no reason why we can't actually get a positive result against the Welsh outfit. If we can hit top form and attack as well as we did against Manchester United, whilst defending resiliently as we have in the league in recent weeks, we could yet get our season back on track.
One thing is for sure, we are going to need one hell of a good display to get maximum points at Swansea so the players need to make sure they stand up to be counted, wear the Arsenal shirt with pride, and give us a performance to be proud of.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
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