Arsenal verdict: Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s poor showing proves Unai Emery needs to change front four plans

WHEN Unai Emery’s dream frontline turns up they are a threat to anyone but when this lot turn up they give the manager nightmares.

Arsenal are conceding too many goals but, against Wolves, it looked like the forwards and not the defenders were the blame.

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The Gunners were in total control, shiting the ball across their backline and probing down either flanks.

But their attack of Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alex Iwobi and Alexandre Lacazette was so toothless it was only a matter of time before Wolves bit them on the backside.

When you have such forward-thinking players crammed into your starting XI you are going always going to be vulnerable to counter attack and so the case proved when Ivan Cavaleiro crashed home.

A front four of two No9s and two No10s just does not add up and no amount of individual talent is going to make up for four misfiring attackers.

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Emery realised his mistake at half-time and hooked Alex Iwobi from his attacking midfield role and he was unlicky as he was not the worst offender.

The Nigeria star made a handful of poor passes that got the already quiet crowd groaning but he showed effort and industry when others definitely did not.

Matteo Guendouzi, a more deep-lying midfielder, joined the dogged Lucas Torreira and Granit Xhaka in the engine room in a more recognisable 4-3-3 formation for the second half.

But when Ozil and Aubameyang look this disinterested you fear no amount of tactical tinkering will turn things around.

Arsenal finished the first half with 72 per cent possession and only one credible chance at Wolves’ goal.

And though Nuno Espirito Santo did set his side up to be compact and stoic on the road, they were never really in any danger, a couple of blocks were as heroic as it got for the visitors.

There have been times when this uber-attacking offence has clicked, against Liverpool with Henrikh Mkhitaryan in ahead of Iwobi, they were a force to be reckoned with.

But with Aaron Ramsey involved in a contract dispute and expected to jump ship in the summer, he can not regain his old spot in the midfield where is guile and vision could help supply the finishers getting crowbarred into the side.

Ozil is often too easy a target and his summer World Cup treatment at the hands of Germany earned him a lot of sympathy. But nights like this are why he is regarded as a showpony.

The sometimes-mercurial-sometimes-malingering playmaker jogged about and mimicked commitment. And he is a target for the tired Gunners fans when results like this come their way.

There was even some cosmetic emotion on 70 minutes when, unhappy with a decision from referee Stuart Atwell, he slammed the ball into the ground and was booked for dissent.

It was, quite possibly his firmest tougch of the ball up to that point and he was fooling no-one with his petulant caution.

Despite an impressive start to the season, the deflated Emirates crowd made it clear they were unhappy with the performance.

One compared it to a testimonial and it was hard to disagree with him.

Iwobi and Ozil both ended up getting hooked, along with a defender, as Emery went hell for leather. But they will both to very well to start the next game against Bournemouth and Lacazette and Aubameyang are in the same boat.

It fell to sub Mkhitaryan to save their bluses and unbeaten record and he is bound to retain his place in the team for that alone.