Well, well. The Gunners are at it again. they are unlikely to end their 13-year drought to win the Premier League title this season. Here are the reason why:
The Emirates club lack of intensity.
Arsenal coming off a 5-0 win over Southampton in the FA Cup fourth round at St Mary’s on Saturday evening, we would be forgiven for siding the Gunners to ease to a resounding victory over Watford on Tuesday.
With the club manager Arsene Wenger sitting in the stands, the Frenchman’s out-of-sorts side limped to a 2-1 loss to the Hornets, which successfully ended the Emirates club bid to end a 13-year wait for the Premier League title chase.
Once again, the club were made to pay for a slow start after Younes Kaboul and Troy Deeney made it 2-1 into the net inside just 12 minutes, highlighting what has been an Achilles heel for the Gunners. Looking at the club chief rivals, Liverpool and Chelsea, both Jurgen Klopp and Antonio Conte’s sides maintain a high intensity from the start which allows the duo clubs to blow away teams. This is an area Wenger needs to work seriously on.
Arsenal Midfield conundrum
So often, it’s clearly seen that Premier Leagues games are won and lost in midfield. Arsenal fans will cast an envious attention when their side travelled to Stamford Bridge where N’Golo Kante and Nemaja Matic dominate the Blues’ opponents. Also, if they can focus to their north London neighbours, Tottenham Hotspurs have Victor Wanyam and Mousa Dembele – the only duo to get the better of Chelsea’s Kante and Matic this season.
Arsenal on the other, haven’t settled on a consistent midfield duo. The club summer £33m acquisition from Borussia Monchengladbach Granit Xhaka looks more like an Everton player than an Arsenal player.
Stagnating?
In the Premier League, all of Arsenal’s chief rivals have made changes in the managerial positions in recent season. Some of which are Chelsea sacking Jose Mourinho and being temporally replaced by Guss Hiddink before finally handing the managerial spot over to Antonio Conte.
Liverpool as well changed from Brendan Rodgers to Jurgen Klopp, and Manchester United from Louis van Gaal to Jose Mourinho. The Gunners, though, have kept faith with Arsene Wenger – to their detriment.
Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are yet to commit to new deals, with their futures likely to be hinging on Wenger’s next move at the Emirates. Conte, Klopp and Jose Mourinho have given their clubs a new lease of life and you can’t help but wonder whether a new manager would get the best out of the Arsenal squad that look to have become too comfortable under Wenger – someone who has always been quick to defend his players.