Arsenal kicked off the new campaign in disappointing fashion, as they suffered an embarrassing defeat at the hands of the newly promoted Brentford side.
Mikel Arteta was forced to make a host of changes with several players missing out due to injuries and illness. The Spaniard fielded a young team featuring a couple of debutants. However, this is no excuse for the lackluster performance displayed on the pitch.
The Gunners just weren’t up to pace with the hosts, and as soon as they conceded the first goal, there was a sense of déjà vu among the supporters. The same mistakes of the previous two seasons were once again evident in the game.
As a whole, Arsenal have had a good defensive shape. With the addition of Ben White, one would only expect the backline to get more solid as the season progresses. But the right-back position needs immediate addressing. Most of the attacking threat seems to come from Kieran Tierney on the left flank.
If Arteta continues to follow his philosophy of playing out from the back, then a competent right-back is an absolute necessity. If the north Londoners aim to elevate their game, they must avoid making unforced errors.
They shoot themselves in the foot with their sloppy passing, especially in their own half. Playing out from the back yields great results when implemented accurately. The downside to this is, one miss pass can easily lead to an opposition goal. The objective should be to cut down on such errors.
Arsenal were ninth based on the number of goals scored last season. This is simply not good enough for a club of this stature. They have been awful in front of the goal last season. The players must improve their finishing rate.
In a competitive league such as the Premier League, clear-cut chances are difficult to come by. Certainly, a lot of improvement needs to be made in the final third. Finally, the owners need to invest. Let’s be fair, this current squad needs a significant injection of quality to compete with the likes of other ‘big 6’ clubs.
This transfer window is one of the most important ones in the club’s recent history. They must be ruthless in the transfer market. Arsenal should take rapid decisions before the club slips into mediocrity. It is high time that this great club returns to where it truly belongs.
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