Former players identify Arsenal’s problem

Everyone knew Arsenal would be in troubled waters when the fixtures for 2021/2022 EPL season was released.  You know, though they have spent the most money in the transfer market this window, one would tend to ask , na who dem buy sef?

Even you are beginning to think.

Their first three games of the season were newly promoted Brentford (Away), Chelsea (Home), and Manchester City (Away). Of these three, you would at least expect them to prove their worth against the newly promoted side (we all agree that the other two are far above their level at the moment). But Arsenal conspired to lose to Brentford.

There is no gain saying that they caused a lot of misery on that weekend.

Investments scatter anyhow, and the betting companies smiled to the bank.

They lost Chelsea expectedly, and were already down 3-0 at half time against Man City with a 5-4-1 formation.

Back to the matter. What is actually wrong with, and at Arsenal sef?

The fans

Arsenal are one of the first elite clubs to raise a banner at their stadium against their coach. They did it to the great Arsene Wenger. #WengerOut

Their players have repeatedly shewn their frustration at how they’ve been treated by their own fans.

Today’s 5-0 thrashing has not come as a surprise. At least to anyone that has been paying attention, and two former players (who left the club after a soured relationship) have shared their views.

Matteo Guendouzi speaking recently at a press conference said, “The Marseille fans are incomparable. At Arsenal, there’s a big stadium, but it’s totally different. The best atmosphere is here [at Marseille]. It’s incredible to play in front of a crowd like this… it really lifts the players.”

Remember that the youngster was one of a few players including Mesut Ozil that were frozen out of the team before their eventual departure.

Guendouzi’s thoughts mirrors that of their former winger, Samir Nasri who while playing for Man City once said, "the City supporters are really passionate and it reminds me of [playing for] Marseille.

"Arsenal have good fans but they are not that passionate since they moved from Highbury to the Emirates. The crowd at City are amazing and that's what you want as a player – a good atmosphere."

The Coach

When Unai Emery was brought in to replace the legendary Arsene Wenger, not many gave him a chance, and as time went by and the club not getting the desired results, the frustrations began to pour in. But a look back at things shows that Emery was not supported financially to be able to compete against the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea (Man United were facing their own struggles too).

And even though he was publicly ridiculed by fans, and pundits who always mimicked his accent, Emery managed to get them to a European final (something he had never lost). But Arsenal lost.

The Spaniard was fired not long into the following season, and on came Mikel Arteta (another Spaniard).

The club’s former midfielder got off to a good start by winning the FA Cup in his first season, qualifying the gunners back to Europe. That signified a good start to a new era, and all that was needed was to build on that success. However, a clear discord between the coach and some key players has translated into unacceptable results game after game.

That FA Cup win is a long memory from now, as Arsenal can’t even seem to assemble a team that beat even the lowest ranked team in the EPL anymore.

Since joining the club as coach, Arteta has had a problem with Ozil (his former team mate), Guendouzi, and since the club’s best striker Aubameyang made it clear that he does not like to play on the wings, he has seen a reduced game time. But how can one man be having issues with so many people? Can they all be wrong, and only he is right?

The board

Before now, Arsenal were known to be an extremely economic club. They hardly spent any money in the transfer windows, rather, they would go and unearth the next future star somewhere in Ethiopia for small money.

But recently, they have been splashing the cash. Especially with Mikel Arteta. Twice in three years Arsenal have spent beyond £50m on one player. Something that was unthinkable under Wenger’s management.

But on who have they spent the money?

The likes of Nicolas Pepe, and Ben White. Players who have not in any way defined themselves as elite talents. How has things come to this? They’ve also brought in Martin Odegaard and Sambi Lokomba. But it’s hard to see how this will help to cut down on the distance between them and other top clubs.

Today’s game

Today’s 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Man City showed helped by some poor defending, lack of ambition, and the only way Arsenal could have gotten anything out of the game was if City made a mistake.

Expectedly, Arsenal fans have been singing the #ArtetaOut anthem. It remains to be seen if the board would listen to them this time, or let the fans misery continue. After all, they called for Arteta.