Jamie Redknapp was not impressed by Arsenal’s performance against Fulham (Photo: Sky Sports)
Takehiro Tomiyasu ‘looked lost’ and was more of hindrance than a help to Arsenal during their 2-1 defeat at Fulham on New Year’s Eve.
That’s according to Jamie Redknapp was at Craven Cottage, as the Gunners missed another chance to go top of the table after suffering back-to-back Premier League defeats.
Bukayo Saka gave the visitors an early lead, but Fulham brilliantly fought back with goals from Raul Jimenez and Bobby De Cordova-Reid giving them a deserved victory.
Though few of Arsenal’s players performed well, Redknapp was critical of Tomiyasu who came on at half-time for Jakub Kiwior.
But moreover Mikel Arteta’s tactics came under fire, with his system of using inverted full-backs stifling creativity.
‘[Saka’s opener] should have been the catalyst for Arsenal to go on and win this game so comfortably. They’ve got the players to do it. But they didn’t have that spark today,’ the former Liverpool and Tottenham star said on Sky Sports.
‘We talk about whether they’re getting enough goals but I look at the full-backs and what are they bringing at the moment.
Takehiro Tomiyasu came on at half-time against Fulham (Photo: Getty)
‘He [Arteta] tried the change at half time. Tomiyasu comes into midfield and all he did was make a nuisance of himself for his own team. He was never given any width. He looked lost in there.
‘Midfield they weren’t quite right, they weren’t creating enough so they weren’t going to score goals. So much possession without the purpose you need.
‘When you feel like the forwards aren’t producing, that puts the pressure on the defence. You’re trying to force things at times and leave yourself a little bit exposed.
Mikel Arteta got his tactics all wrong at Craven Cottage (Photo: Getty)
‘It’s symptomatic of what Arsenal are right now. They’re a bit lost, they’ve got to find their confidence. They have Man City breathing down their necks. There are other sides.
‘People thought Arsenal would go on and this might be a bit of a procession for them. This might be the reality check they need. Because they’re right off it at the moment.’
The result has left Arsenal fourth in the table, two points off leaders Liverpool and level with Manchester City who both have a game in hand, and also just one point ahead of Tottenham following their 3-1 win over Bournemouth.
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The January transfer window is about to open, and many Gunners fans are hoping the club will make a move for Brentford and England striker Ivan Toney, though Redknapp is skeptical of the transfer.
‘They’re talking about getting a centre forward in – Ivan Toney is what Arsenal fans want but are Brentford going to sell with the injuries they’ve got? And it’s getting precarious for Brentford, they need to keep him.
‘It’s an area they need to strengthen but they might need to be creative. They might have to get a loan. It’s not going to be easy to get that centre forward and all of a sudden everything is going to click and it’s going to be magic.’
MORE : Ange Postecoglou gives hilarious response to touchline scrap during Tottenham’s win over Bournemouth
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‘He looked lost.’