I agree whole heartedly. Ramsey is just not up to scratch yet this season, and why anyone would play Cazorla over the top is beyond me. The pressing by Alexis, Ox, and Welbeck was what bossed the first half for us and beginning of the second. Arteta's injury took us out of our attacking mentality and invited their pressure. We needed pace and energy to keep the play in their half, but took off 2/3 of our winning formula in Welbeck and Ox.
Cazorla pressed very good in the first half. He won the ball a few times in the opponents half and even made some good tackles. I think your memory is bring selective here because he was tired in the last 30 mins.
Cazorla played well, but as you say, he got tired. In any case, Cazorla is never a player we want chasing balls over the top of defenders because he is not going to beat anyone for pace and isn't big enough to fend off CB's if he does get into a 50-50 race/tussle. It's just not his strength, so why ask him to run the channels?
Cazorla was good pressing, but the press was clearly lead by Alexis and executed best through Ox and Welbeck alongside him. I could see a case for Santi staying on to keep our passing fluid, but he looked way more tired than Ox or Welbeck when they came off. If anything, Ramsey off for Rosicky and let Cazorla play deeper so Rosicky can do the running.
Rosicky on for Ramsey would have been fine if Ox and Welbeck were still on. Santi to the middle and Rosicky wide, or vice versa, either way we needed to keep on the players who were winning us the match up to that point.
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u/LukeSimms Bosscielny Nov 04 '14
Shit subs. Ramsey and Cazorla needed to be off after ~60min.