Although last night’s 2-1 Champions League defeat to Dinamo Zagreb was rightly billed by everybody as a huge shock in the competition, it was unfortunately not that surprising for some Arsenal fans who have grown tired now of the club’s complacent attitude.
Shooting themselves in the foot with Olivier Giroud getting sent off with the Gunners 1-0 down at that point, both yellows could be described as harsh but at the same time, the already under-fire French international was incredibly silly to invite this attention from the referee.
Starting another competition just like they started the Premier League, in the worst way possible with no points to show for their efforts or lack thereof, Gooners will be hoping this unwanted pattern doesn’t continue in the League Cup next week when they travel to North London rivals Tottenham.
Still within the Premier League’s top four as the current standings display, it could be a lot, lot worse for the Gunners but at the same time, it could be a hell of a lot better too with a club of their stature surely needing to set the bar higher, not only in terms of performances but ambition too.
Refraining from signing a striker and a defensive midfielder this summer, an attacking duo of Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott looks incredibly light, not to mention Mikel Arteta not covering himself in glory yet again last night after covering for Francis Coquelin.
If Chelsea manage to inflict yet another defeat over the Gunners when they travel to Stamford Bridge on Saturday lunchtime, the cloud of doom will once more fall over Emirates Stadium – well, in the eyes of the #WengerOut brigade anyway.
With the Gunners having a lot to ponder right now following their return from Eastern Europe this midweek, we’ve devised a list of five things that need to change at the club as soon as possible.
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Click on the image below to reveal the 5 things that need to change at Arsenal as soon as possible.
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Address complacent attitudes when facing inferior opposition
While we all of course now know that West Ham United and Dinamo Zagreb actually beat Arsenal this season, with no disrespect to those two teams, they are sides that the Gunners should’ve beaten.
The Hammers had a terrible record at Emirates Stadium prior to their shock 0-2 victory on the Premier League’s opening day and even last night, the Gunners looked ordinary against their Croatian opposition, even before Olivier Giroud made their task that much harder.
Seemingly unable to fire themselves up for games they are expectedly tipped to succeed in, this is a real problem in the eyes of Arsenal supporters right now.
It’s a bad pattern that needs stamping out as quickly as possible because Arsene Wenger even admitted himself in the lead up to yesterday’s Champions League game that the club’s exit to Monaco last season was their biggest regret of 2014/15.
This seemingly complacent attitude of simply turning up to defeat the opposition must stop and lets be honest, even though Wenger has been criticised in some quarters for making six changes last night, the Gunners still had plenty of experience on that pitch to have successfully gotten the job done.
Refrain from playing Aaron Ramsey on the right wing
He was of course rested and didn’t travel with the Arsenal squad that performed in Zagreb yesterday evening but so far this term, Arsene Wenger has persisted with his decision to accommodate Aaron Ramsey on the right wing.
Playing the Welsh international here for large periods of last season too, many Arsenal fans disagree with his deployment in a position that undoubtedly requires pace down the flanks.
Ramsey is far from being a speed machine and always naturally makes the pitch narrower by coming inside and this a detriment to the Gunners’ attacks.
There is far too much onus on Hector Bellerin to bomb on outside Ramsey when he drifts inside and this can sometimes leave Arsenal exposed at the back.
The problem for Wenger is that Santi Cazorla enjoyed a fantastic central midfield partnership with Francis Coquelin in the second half of last season but with the Spaniard failing to hit the heights so far this season, Arsenal should either drop the Spaniard and play Ramsey in field again or simply start Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Theo Walcott more regularly on the wing.
Quit penny pinching for good while signing a DM and striker in January
Don’t get us wrong, it was really, really bad for Arsenal in Zagreb last night but just imagine if the likes of Theo Walcott or Francis Coquelin picked up an injury too?
Arsene Wenger’s decision to only bring in Petr Cech this summer has quite simply left Arsenal’s squad looking threadbare in certain positions and although the likes of Danny Welbeck are out injured, you felt the Gunners needed strengthening anyway.
Until January at least, Arsenal now have to rotate Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott up top and according to some Gooners, neither are the answer in order to win the title despite Walcott now having registered his 12th goal in 12 games last night.
Moreover, Mikel Arteta proved he cannot be relied upon to stand up and bne counted when Francis Coquelin is either rested or suspended with the Spaniard looking leggy while giving the ball away in careless fashion last night.
With Mathieu Flamini also billed as a write off alongside Arteta, injuries to the likes of Walcott and Coquelin would plunge Arsenal into crisis so Wenegr surely has to sure up these positions in January?
While it’s the case that true top quality strikers were a rare commodity this summer, players such as Andre Ayew were still shrewdly snapped up early on and despite the Ghanaian not being an out-and-out forward, what we’re saying is that quality players are out there and Arsenal need to be far, far more decisive when luring new players to the club.
Inflict a defeat on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge for self belief
While Arsenal overcame a huge psychological hurdle in Arsene Wenger finally beating a Jose Mourinho-led Chelsea team in the FA Community Shield at the start of the season, it would mean a hell of a lot more if they could repeat the trick at the home of the Blues on Saturday lunchtime.
Chelsea are undefeated against the Gunner at Stamford Bridge in their last seven and despite enduring a quite terrible start to the new campaign, their 4-0 victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv last night will at least breed some more confidence ahead of a game the Blues usually come out on top in.
Despite being terrible so far this season, Chelsea are often viewed by Arsenal fans as the team they simply need to beat, not only in terms of London pride but overcoming sides that play smart with their bus parking tactics and what have you.
If Arsenal can achieve a victory on Saturday, you feel a lot of the terrible work they did last night in Croatia will be forgiven.
For Arsenal’s players to show the fans they care more, on the pitch
When listening to the BT Sport Europe pundits last night, Gary Lineker, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard and Ian Wright spoke about the lack of leadership in this current Arsenal team with Wrighty admitting that Arsene Wenger has never been a manager to rage at his players, instead opting for a softly, softly and respectful approach.
Sometimes it’s hard for Arsenal fans to believe in such a style however with their performance last night needing to be met by the Sir Alex Ferguson hairdryer treatment, let alone trying not to upset anybody’s feelings in the dressing room.
Last night’s defeat was simply not good enough for anybody connected with Arsenal but wouldn’t it be great for more of their players to visibly show some passion out on the field.
Especially in this country, we like to witness grit and determination but at present, it’s only really the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Gabriel Paulista that visibly display hard work on the pitch with others looking disinterested and passive.
We all remember when Per Mertesacker had a go at German colleague Mesut Ozil for refusing to acknowledge the fans after a game away at Manchester City and this is the kind of passion that Arsenal supporters want to see from their players on much more of a consistent basis.
