Making sense of Arsenal’s current problems.

A thread:

Arsenal’s struggles this season have been very well publicised. The club have lost four home games in a row for the first time since 1959 and have endured their worst start since 1974-75.

For the last three years, Arsenal have started the year with three different managers (Wenger in 2018, Emery in 2019, Arteta in 2020), with that trend potentially reaching four from four. But why have Arsenal been so bad this campaign, especially after the FA Cup win?

In this thread, I will talk about:
- The playing squad
- The culture within Arsenal
- Mikel Arteta and his future
- Transfers and Edu

THE SQUAD

This squad isn’t good enough for a top-four challenge. Arsenal’s team is the result of three years of mismanagement, differing visions and overall neglect. There can be cases made against upwards of ten players. Arteta hasn’t had the chance to make the squad he wants.

A squad clearout has to happen soon. The majority of this current playing squad is barely Europa League standard, never mind Champions League. The fact Xhaka and Mustafi have managed to survive nearly five years at the club says it all, really.

That being said, there are several young talents coming through that Arsenal can build a team around. That, coupled with several young signings, could take Arsenal back to the Champions League.

CULTURE

Arsenal’s squad seems to be unsettled right now. Arteta seemingly fixed the culture issue that he inherited early on. Players were more motivated and determined to succeed and fight for their place. However, this changed with how two players were treated.

The Guendouzi and Ozil situations have both been very controversial. Ozil’s situation isn’t because of footballing issues. He is one of the few creators left in this team. It most likely isn’t the China issue - Arteta isn’t the type to let the board influence decisions.

Guendouzi is more tricky. By all accounts, he has had attitude problems for most of his career. If he didn’t accept what he did was wrong, I understand the decision to send him out on loan. However, you can’t argue that he would improve the team and would put his all in.

What’s more damning comes from recent reports. A recent article from Chris Wheatley reveals that the squad are divided following the exiles of Ozil and Sokratis, as well as the fallout of Pepe’s red card. Several players have also reportedly checked out. https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/mikel-arteta-arsenal-future-crisis-19451929

MIKEL ARTETA

Usually, culture issues stem from one man; the manager. Arteta slammed Pepe on TV and left out Sokratis and Ozil from the PL squad, as well as Saliba. He’s also rumoured to have fallen out with David Luiz, a highly influential figure within the dressing room.

It’s clear Arteta has to improve his man-management. The handling of several players has been very poor this season. His omissions of the like of Maitland-Niles and Saliba and the continued inclusions of Xhaka, Bellerin and Willian is baffling.

That being said, Arteta has a very high ceiling as a manager and will improve with time. I have full confidence that he is the right man to take us forward. He just needs investment and the right players. That brings me to the biggest problem at Arsenal right now…

EDU GASPAR

Edu, in my opinion, has to go. He said that Arsenal needed an 8 and a 10 and failed to bring in a player of either profile. Edu was the one who put all Arsenal’s eggs in Aouar’s basket and had no plan B. He let Szoboszlai slip through the net and let Leipzig get him.

What I find worse, however, is Arsenal’s outgoings - or lack of. While I understand that it was hard to move players such as Ozil and Kolasinac, some other decisions have been inexcusable. We had offers for both Lacazette and Bellerin come in over the summer and didn’t accept.

What’s worse is that following their respective performances this season, Arsenal aren’t going to get fees as big as what they were going to get in the summer. On top of that, we had the chance to move Xhaka off IN JANUARY and failed to do so.

CONCLUSION
Arsenal is need of a reset. The squad desperately needs an overhaul and the structure at the top of the club needs to be re-made. Arsenal need a proper DoF, someone like Campos or Ragnick. While I think Arteta is the right man, he needs proper tools to work with.

End of thread.

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