Arsenal star puts in 'ghost' 5/10 performance in 'poor result' for national team as group blown wide open

One of Arsenal’s players disappointed for their nation on Friday night in a result that blows one of the World Cup qualifying groups wide open. Belgium faced North Macedonia at home in a game that should have seen them go top of their group, with this being their game in hand over their opponents and third place Wales.

But Belgium couldn’t find a way through, drawing 0-0, and that result leaves them just one point ahead of Wales having played the same number of games and one point behind North Macedonia having played one less. Interestingly, Belgium face Wales on Monday in Cardiff in what could be a defining game in the race for the World Cup.

The North Macedonia clash was a huge chance missed for Belgium, especially given their patchy record against Wales over the years, albeit they did win the first meeting 4-3 after coming from behind late on.

The Red Devils were expected to win here having won each of their last two games by a scoreline of 6-0, scoring 16 goals in their last three games alone. But North Macedonia locked them out despite Belgium having 25 shots. Only five of those were on target, while North Macedonia had just three shots all night, and none of them were on target.

Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard started the game and played 74 minutes in a false nine role, but he did not impress. RTBF gave him a 5/10 rating, reasoning: “It sometimes feels like he's a bit immune to the national team. Never particularly lively lately with the Red Devils, Leandro was once again a Trossard

“Namely, starting as a false nine, he was a ghost for a good part of the match (9 touches after... 30 minutes) before coming close to assisting (45th minute) and then scoring with his knee just after the break. Another uneven performance, almost saved by a decisive move, which left us wanting more.”

Garcia on Belgium shortcomings

Speaking after the game, Belgium boss Rudi Garcia believed his side performed well enough to come away with the win. "It's the performance I expected, but on the other hand, it's indeed a poor result,” he said. “We did everything we could to win.

“He lacked a bit of skill, we didn't hit the target enough. We had 25 shots, we completely dominated. North Macedonia were underwater in the first half, they changed their system in the second. We could have played without a goalkeeper tonight, Thibaut Courtois had nothing to do. We also perhaps made some bad choices up front.

“The opposing goalkeeper made some good saves. If the opponent had stayed completely behind in the second half, Michy Batshuayi would have come on. They brought on a striker, that gave us space so Loïs Openda came on. It was the right choice I think. I would have loved him to score. We will have Charles De Ketelaere back for Monday as well, we will have all our strength. We will need a result in Cardiff, we will go for that.”

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