‘We could have avoided poor start’ – AFC Wimbledon boss Robinson on EFL Cup defeat at Arsenal

AFC Wimbledon head coach Mark Robinson would have loved to have given the travelling Dons fans more to get excited about during their 3-0 EFL Cup loss to Arsenal – and believes the start his side made at the Emirates was avoidable.

The Gunners took the lead in the first half through an Alexandre Lacazette penalty after Gabriel Martinelli was brought down in the 10th minute by Nesta Guinness-Walker.

The home side doubled their lead in the second 45 through Emile Smith Rowe, which was quickly followed by a goal from Eddie Nketiah, who wrapped up all three points in the 80th minute.

Wimbledon, who made it to the third round following wins away to Charlton and Northampton Town, failed to register a single shot on target at the

Emirates, with Arsenal’s Premier League quality the deciding factor on the evening.

Reflecting on his side’s performance, Robinson told the South London Press: “There was some positives and some things not that positive. I felt we recovered from the early goal really well. I thought we had a really good spell in the first half, where I didn’t think there was a lot between the two sides – we were having good possession.

“It was a little bit disappointing that once we got into the final third, our crosses were under-hit, so we didn’t create enough chaos in there. Their second goal came in the 78th minute, so that was a bit disappointing. And I just felt the subs didn’t quite give us the impetus I was hoping. That’s nothing personal on them; I just didn’t feel like it gave us the freshness I was hoping it would give us to kick on.”

Although the South-west Londoners imposed themselves on the game and went toe-to-toe with Arsenal for large sections of the 90 minutes, Robinson called his side’s start to the match “the worst possible,” with Guinness-Walker bringing down Martinelli inside the area for a penalty.

“The early goal was avoidable, but then we recovered from that. When it gets to 70 minutes, and you’re putting subs on, you’re thinking: ‘We know we’re a threat from corners and free-kicks, and we know we can play well enough to get into those final third areas’.

“We probably just didn’t do that enough. We could have turned them a little bit more and made them a bit more uncomfortable as well as playing our football. There are always things you have got to build on, but for the bulk of the game, I don’t think the disparity looked that huge.”

Speaking about the huge Wimbledon turnout who made the trip to north London, Robinson added: “I would have loved to have given our fans a few more moments to get excited about. Some of the football was certainly good, but it would have been nice to give them a few more shots and corners to get them excited.

“They were fantastic. That’s the only slight disappointment. I think they realised that there were elements of our performance that were really good – if you compare it to other performances, we have really passed the ball well. It just would have been nice to get a few more shots away and give them a few more ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ to get excited about.”

Finding a positive from the game and asked if Wednesday evening’s occasion can be used as a catalyst to spur on more moments of that magnitude in the future for Wimbledon, Robinson said: “That’s why it was important we came and tried to be us. If we came here and just sat behind the ball, we might have nicked a result, but then where do you go?

“At least we have come here and tried to be us – there were things we did well and things we haven’t done well enough.

“The players can look – they have all got their ambitions and where they want to play – we know where we have got to improve. That was a massive positive that we came to stamp our identity on the game, and we did that in certain areas.”

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD