How do I even start? I am at a loss for words, but I have a lot to say. Despite my abundance of words, I am unable to speak them. There is nothing except shame about what happened in London. There is very little that persuades me that the game has any positive aspects. This season, Real Madrid played their worst game, and the unfortunate thing is that there are a lot of games like this.
Everything except a Real Madrid team was present in the game. Mikel Arteta completely exposed Carlo Ancelotti and his strategies, and the soulless ghosts of Madrid stood there only as spectators to the final devastation Arsenal inflicted on Los Blancos.
One thing is undeniable. The game provided a lot of opportunities for learning. There's a lot to think about and take notes on. Carlo Ancelotti and his team will need to conduct a lot of self-reflection and brainstorming to make the most of what little time remaining this season. Until then, these are the top three lessons from Arsenal's disaster.
1. An ultimate lack of tactics, an ultimate lack of awareness
An ordinary Joe would not have waited for the three goals to sketch in light of this insight. Only a few minutes into the game, this would have become obvious. Real Madrid were fielded on the turf of Emirates Stadium with no game plan and a complete lack of grasp of all things football.
And Carlo Ancelotti is not the only one to blame, albeit he must bear the full brunt of it. The players, too, helped to ensure that only disgrace returned on the journey back to Madrid.
The conversion rate in front of the goal was exceptionally bad. Something about the front three irritated me throughout the game. Kylian Mbappe looked to have lost his sheen, as he failed to finish chances that were often too simple for him.
Vinicius Jr. was too confused and unmotivated to take chances. He appeared to be overly cautious, and as the game progressed, he lost control of the ball and, as a result, the game. Plus, this did not happen only in one game. It has been the case in many previous games; it was simply more evident this time.
About Rodrygo, I'd rather not say. It just felt like all of his expectations on evenings like this were too high. He was simply mediocre. Thibaut Courtois looked to be the game's soul, and without him, the score could have easily been 5-0.
Overall, it was evident that Ancelotti's tactics, if any, failed after a few minutes of the game. There is just no excuse for having the world's greatest players and making the team appear like a high school flop squad. It felt like a battle of traditional football tactics vs newer, quicker football. The latter certainly prevailed.
2. The Real Madrid board is not only not proactive, but also not reactive
Since the start of the season, it has been evident that Los Blancos would not be able to play the full season with a second-choice defensive lineup since their two big game players, Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao, were out due to injury.
Raul Asencio's arrival was, at most, a stroke of luck that kept a sinking ship afloat for a little while longer. I can't recall the last time David Alaba performed well for Real Madrid. The left-back position is a source of ongoing controversy and uncertainty.
Los Blancos clearly required significant defensive reinforcements. However, the board never bothered to meet the demand. Florentino Perez and his companions consistently overlooked the obvious weaknesses in the defense and relied on a shaky, untrustworthy leap of faith. Arsenal demonstrated the power of a cut on the final remaining dangling thread.
3. Carlo Ancelotti needs to leave, as soon as possible
If I were to summarize one key takeaway from the game versus Arsenal, it would be this. Carlo Ancelotti and his management team must leave, and they must depart quickly. This betrayal of a squad of extremely skilled athletes in their peak age and game is unacceptable. More importantly, the fans cannot be deceived in this way.
Yes, the Italian manager is a legend in his business. He is one of the most successful football managers of all time. He has had his most memorable moments at Real Madrid, but this is enough. He can't seem to figure out how to get the most out of the world-class players he has available.
His techniques are antiquated and foolish. He has lost all tests and chances over and over again. Overall, he is better off taking the back door while the fans scream his praises in retrospect.