Not sure if people were watching a different game or just want to gas the youngsters up. Our attack, minus the left hand side, was constantly fluid. Xhaka also had a good game imo.
If we’re looking to play 4231, which seems to be the case, then the glaringly obvious issue attacking wise is left wing. Which Emery is clearly wanting to sort out.
I thought Aubameyang was top top class going from out to in on the right and I thought Özil also had a very good game.
Mustafi is a huge issue, one of two obvious issues on the pitch, second being left wing/mid.
The formation can be very flexible if/when we sign Ceballos. Auba/Laca rotate a lot and either way if Laca is having an off day at least you know you can bring Nelson on and put Auba up top.
Left wing needs sorting this window if we are to flourish in a 4231/433.
I'm not sure you watched it. You just have to look at their opening line up to see why we looked 'good' going forward. We had our 'strongest' line up bar Willock. They literally only had Tolisso, Thiago, Neuer and Alaba playing in their proper positions. They had basically no threat going forward and were still dangerous.
When they made the 11 changes and took 5 minutes to settle they completely dominated from that point. We had opportunities to counter but that is literally it. Those opportunities wouldn't even occur if they had Goretzka Thiago and Tolisso in midfield together.
It's the same old story. We can't connect the midfield to the attack. We have no wingers to beat players. Xhaka and Mustafi are still making errors. AMN is not a right back and even though that is the case he is offered no protection. There is nothing positive to take from the first team players apart from Auba. FFS Özil did not have a good game. This is the problem. This is pre season intensity and this is the same intensity Özil displays in an actual league game.