Arsenal legend Ian Wright has criticised Sambi Lokonga and Fabio Vieira for allowing Alvarez to strike from distance in yesterday’s FA Cup match.
The resulting strike struck the post and was recycled by Jack Grealish before being fed to Nathan Ake for the city’s winner.
Fabio Vieira started the game, with Lokonga replacing Thomas Partey at halftime. Arteta’s men have now been eliminated from two domestic competitions ( League Cup and FA Cup ).
Wright voiced out his displeasure after the game. He said via Metro:
‘It did seem like [Julian] Alvarez, when you see him there, who’s picking him up?Obviously any striker worth his salt is going to turn and shoot. I think Jack Grealish’s vision and capability, keeping the ball and then noticing Ake.‘
‘But look at the amount of space [Alvarez] is in. Someone has got to be there, whether it’s [Fabio] Vieira or it’s Lokonga. Someone has got to be closer, too much space.’
‘With someone like Sambi, he needs minutes, he needs to be playing, he needs to be able to understand and be more wary of where he is and what he needs to do and where he needs to be dropping in.’
‘You’ve got to kind of sense that danger and that’s why he needs the minutes in games of this quality, because that’s where you learn.’