After several years absorbing the wisdom of Pep Guardiola there was always a danger that Mikel Arteta would prove to be a Pep-lite. In the event, he is managerial Rola Cola.
If that seems especially harsh then what other metric of assessment is left after Arsenal’s defeat to Burnley last Sunday? It was the Gunners’ fourth loss on the bounce at home and the last time that happened was 1959. This is Arsenal’s worst start to a top-flight campaign since 1975. Only Burnley, West Brom and Sheffield United have scored fewer goals while Fulham and the Blades have created more big chances. Fulham and the Blades for goodness sake.
Key players have been alienated, with Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac cut loose and David Luiz reportedly no longer on speaking terms with his coach. Other stars meanwhile, such as Granit Xhaka, Willian, and Alexandre Lacazette are a shadow of their former selves.
Damningly, as far as Arteta is concerned, his win rate since taking the reins at the Emirates a year ago is 39.3%. That’s worse than five of the last ten managers to be sacked in the Premier League.
More prosaically, Arsenal have lost seven from 12 in the league to date and languish among the relegation candidates with a significant chunk of the season gone.
The Spaniard is 7/4 to be the next Premier League gaffer to leave his post.
Arteta on whether he feels the players are 100% behind him: "My feeling is yes but this is a question for them obviously. Again, when I see the reaction & the way they try there's not one bit that worries me that they're not trying their best, that's for sure" #Arsenal pic.twitter.com/ZkQwhnw3s1
— Gurjit (@GurjitAFC) December 15, 2020
So harsh is where we’re at now. Harsh is all we’ve got, for all of the excuses made on Arteta’s behalf by some of the fan-base with a portion of the blame transferred to the players.
At least against Burnley there were signs of hope. At least there was that. For once Arsenal’s build-up play actually had a purpose and genuine chances were carved out – prior to the game they had created the third fewest in the league – only of course they were all missed and then the Clarets unleashed a late sucker-punch. In that regard it was the kind of defeat that seems to inflict itself on Arsenal once or twice a season no matter who is in charge and how they’re generally faring. So perhaps the latest calamity can be put down to bad luck and rotten timing?
Perhaps, but probably not. Arsenal have looked aimless and toothless for too long now and though positive noises still emanate from within the club about Arteta’s job security surely that will change and change quickly if results continue to go against them. This past year has been extremely costly for the club in many ways and top four was financially viewed as a must.
All of which makes the next two fixtures critical and without question this is the most important and defining week for the Gunners in quite some time.
First up is the hosting of Southampton on Wednesday evening. The Saints are absolutely flying at present and furthermore boast a terrific away record, last losing on their travels on the opening day of the season. Given the sharp contrast in confidence between the sides 11/5 for an away win is great value, especially when it’s factored in that Southampton have learned behaviour to draw on after gaining a valuable point in North London last term.
It should be noted too that James Ward-Prowse has so far scored three times as many free-kicks than any other player in the league. The midfielder is 19/5 to score anytime.
Three days later Goodison Park beckons and this is a much more difficult contest to call. Maybe it’s the memory of Thierry Henry and co regularly running riot at Everton all those years back playing mental tricks but the temptation is to err towards the club in crisis snatching a result when it’s most needed here. Maybe too, it’s an intuitive feeling that the players still fighting for their boss will do so when the chips are down in a similar vein to Manchester United’s imperative victory over Carlo Ancelotti’s men at the start of November. Regardless, Arsenal are 37/20 to prevail and that’s a good shout. Should you wish to go the whole hog and back Aubameyang to score – the usually ruthless forward has failed to convert in open play for 1051 minutes – then he is 21/4 to break the deadlock.
But back to Arsenal and their seemingly never-ending soap operatic crisis. Only three sides have enjoyed more possession this season yet 15 of their peers have taken more shots. That is a story in itself. Their lack of attempts on goal is all-the-more disconcerting when it’s acknowledged that the Gunners have attempted more throughballs than anyone else. The will to create is there. They just can’t.
To what extent the absence of Thomas Partey and Xhaka in the forthcoming games impacts upon this remains to be seen but truthfully an uninspiring midfield is only one of Arsenal’s problems. One of many.
"I can see a big and beautiful future”. That’s what Edu, the club’s technical director said yesterday but promises of a bright tomorrow don’t wash right now. Only this week matters.
And though it feels unfair that the implementation of a radical new approach by a grade A student of Pep-ball should boil down to just two matches that’s precisely where we are. As harsh as that is.
