Omar Marmoush faced a heavy defeat in his second match with Manchester City. Arsenal delivered one of their best performances this season, winning 5-1 in the top clash of the 24th round of the Premier League. This victory sent a strong message to Liverpool, the league leaders, reducing the gap to just six points, with one fewer game for the Reds.
Manchester City looked unsettled, especially in the second half, while Arsenal showcased their attacking brilliance, securing a dominant win. However, most of the attention was on Marmoush’s performance in his second match, as he started again.
What did Omar Marmoush offer against Arsenal?
It can be said that Marmoush did not perform at his best. While his stats showed he made 3 key passes, more than any other City player, he only managed one off-target shot after an hour of play, before being substituted in the 72nd minute.
The well-known British newspaper, The Telegraph, gave the Egyptian international a rating of 4 out of 10, the lowest among City players. They commented, “His ball control was poor, and he seemed to drift out of the game. It’s clear he is still adjusting to the demands of the Premier League.”
One of Marmoush‘s strengths was his delivery of set pieces, which caused problems for Arsenal. He also helped set up a chance with a header from Josko Gvardiol. However, he still needs more time to build chemistry with his teammates at Manchester City.
Marmoush’s movements in this game resembled those of a midfielder more than an attacking winger, unlike in the Chelsea match. He only touched the ball three times inside Arsenal’s penalty area (as shown in the touch map above), and Arsenal’s defence managed to limit his impact by controlling City’s star players.
Arsenal’s pressing strategy forced City to play the ball wide during their build-up, which kept Marmoush away from dangerous areas in the final third. He struggled to find the space he usually enjoys running into, as he did against Chelsea.
Against Chelsea, Marmoush faced a higher defensive line, but Arsenal’s defence was more compact, making it difficult for him to get involved. His touches in the box were limited to just three, showing the lack of his attacking influence.
Looking at the numbers, Marmoush completed 19 out of 24 passes, giving him a success rate of 79%. He won just one of four duels, lost possession eight times, and, most notably, did not make any defensive contributions before being substituted.
