Unai Emery’s Arsenal have now drawn four games in a row as the Gunners conceded late on to only take one point back to the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal legend and BT Sport pundit Martin Keown has issued a brutal verdict on the Gunners following their disappointing 1-1 draw with Vitoria in the Europa League.
The Premier League side dominated possession but struggled to create many chances against the Portuguese side, finally breaking the deadlock with just 10 minutes to go.
Shkodran Mustafi had provided Unai Emery’s side with the breakthrough in the 80th minute, weighing in with an unmarked header from a Nicolas Pepe free kick.
However, Vitoria’s Marcus Edwards delivered a cross from the right following a good run which Arsenal failed to clear, allowing Bruno Duarte to equalise with a scissor kick.
Keown believes Arsenal are beset with “problems all over the pitch”, says the Gunners “can’t defend”, and even appeared to have a dig at Emery, hinting that under him, the team is “losing some of the identity” which Arsene Wenger helped build.
“There are problems all over the pitch,” Keown told BT Sport, as quoted by BBC Sport. “It can quickly be turned around. If I was involved in the weekend I’d go on the attack because we can’t defend. We are in danger of losing some of the identity of the team built under Arsene Wenger. We cannot defend and have lost that attacking flavour.
“I think it’s a personal thing of how you mark up in set-pieces. There are huge gaps. All they did was put a ball in and run through the hole. they could put a double decker bus through that! It’s too simple. It’s basic decision-making and they need to change.”
Arsenal, who have drawn four games in a row in all competitions, will still qualify for the last 32 on Thursday if third-placed Standard Liege lose to Eintracht Frankfurt (BBC Sport).
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