GUNNERS NIGHT-MAR
Arsenal verdict: Mari taught harsh lesson by Chelsea striker Lukaku as Gunners defender suffers horror London derby
PABLO MARI will want to wipe this afternoon from his memory.
The 27-year-old centre-half was playing just his 14th Premier League game for the Gunners... and will never have come up against someone like Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku.
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And the Spaniard was taught an embarrassing 90-minute lesson by the Belgian at the Emirates Stadium.
From the very first kick it was apparent Lukaku was targeting Mari despite his centre-back partner Holding coming in at late notice for Ben White after the ex-Brighton man tested positive for coronavirus.
It took the Chelsea striker just 14 minutes to score on his second debut for the Blues.
The £97.5m man shrugged off Mari with consummate ease and tucked away the opening goal of the game.
And it was clear then that he was several levels above the man who had been tasked with keeping him quiet.
Whether it was a ball to feet, chest or head, Lukaku had total control of the Arsenal defender.
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In the interests of balance, there are few strikers in the world capable of manhandling defenders the way Lukaku can.
And, since his incredible transformation in Italy with Inter Milan, there a few defenders who can hope to keep him quiet.
But Lukaku will also have expected more of a challenge on his return to England than what Mari presented to him.
Every time the ball reached the edge of the box the former Manchester United marksman was given the time and space to do whatever he pleased.
He should have had two on the day but for the superb fingertips of Bernd Leno thwarting him late on.
And the German keeper must have been bewildered as to the lack of protection in front of him.
With Holding coming in for his first start of the season, Mari needed to take charge of the back line.
Instead, he looked completely at sea alongside left-back Kieran Tierney.
Time and time again they became far too narrow and allowed Reece James and Marcos Alonso acres of space to run into.
It was an extremely tough couple of hours for Mari who, at 27 years of age, cannot be looked at as someone who will improve dramatically in the near future.
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Many eyebrows were raised after £50million man White's difficult debut against Brentford nine days ago.
But on the evidence of today, they already need him back as soon as possible.
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