It was a game that Arsene Wenger would describe as one that Arsenal “couldn’t afford to lose.” When Robin Van Persie scored his 19th Premiership goal to cancel out Antonio Valencia’s first half opener in time added on for Manchester United, the manner of the Gunners response suggested that indeed Arsenal would prevail, and especially given the skill, the tenacity and desire from 18 year old Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. He had the assist for Van Persie’s goal and just as he threatened to explode through the tiring United resistance, Wenger hauled him off and replaced him with the misfiring Andrey Arshavin.

Crowd unrest

That United went on to get a late winner through Danny Welbeck was a tragedy that seemed entirely preventable had Oxlade-Chamberlain been allowed to surge forward at will. The fact that the Russian was culpable for United’s winner only added to the uncharacteristic raw Emirates crowd verbal aggression directed towards Wenger. Everyone could see that the change had gifted United the victory, when prior to the substitution, all the threat was coming from red and white shirts.

We came back with a fantastic fighting spirit, I felt we had to chances to win the game. It was important not to make a mistake ” – Arsene Wenger

Wenger diagnosis

” I stand up for my decisions, and that’s basically it. If I make a mistake I’m sorry, ” grumbled Wenger, who cited Oxlade-Chamberlain’s tightening calf, compounded with being “sick” in the week as the reasons for the controversial change. That seemed to be against what we could see on the pitch with the forward showing no outward symptoms of Wenger’s diagnosis.

” I can understand the fans are upset with the substitution, especially when it doesn’t work. It was important not to make a mistake, we were caught at the moment where we felt we were closer to winning the game,” continued the Arsenal manager.

Injuries

The result puts Arsenal five points behind fourth place Chelsea and ten behind Spurs. Wenger should have Jack Wilshere and Bacary Sagna among those back after injury, as well as on loan Gunners record goal scorer Thierry Henry who sat out the United loss with a calf injury.

Objective assistance

As we sit and digest Arsenal’s third straight Premiership defeat, and eighth overall, Wenger will know that the fans’ frustrations are mounting. Seven years and still no silverware, and although no one in their right minds would advocate a changing at the helm, by making such a naive substitution, it seems abundantly clear that objective assistance in the coaching department is well overdue if such controversy is to be avoided in future.