Understanding The Recent Bad Form (050)

The recent downturn in Arsenal’s form has left fans wondering where it all went wrong. The Gunners were flying high just a few weeks ago and were considered one of the favourites to challenge for the Premier League title this season. However, a series of disappointing results have seen them slip down to second, handing Man City the chance to secure yet another league title.

One of the main factors that have contributed to Arsenal’s recent struggles is their injury woes. Key players such as William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu have been sidelined with injuries, which has left the team short of options at the back. This has forced Arteta to play players like Rob Holding who struggles to apply certain attributes that has allowed the team to look so fluid at the back.

Another issue that has plagued Arsenal this season is their lack of ruthlessness in front of goal but also their complacency when starting games well. The Gunners have squandered a number of chances in recent weeks, including against Liverpool and West Ham, which has cost them dearly. This has been a recurring issue for Arsenal this season and one that Arteta will need to address if they are to finish the season strongly.

Defensive frailties have also been a major issue for Arsenal in the past few weeks. They have conceded 11 goals in their last four league games, which is simply not good enough for a team that has aspirations of challenging for the title. There are serious questions being asked of Arteta’s ability to organise his defence, and he will need to come up with a solution quickly if Arsenal are to get back on track.

One of the biggest criticisms of Arsenal in recent weeks has been their lack of leadership and composure on the pitch. With Martin Odegaard and Granit Xhaka not showing enough on the pitch to galvanise their teammates, there has been a noticeable lack of leadership in the Arsenal team. This has been evident in their recent performances, and it is something that also needs to be addressed. However it should also be noted that a team so young will inevitably lack the experience and leadership needed to see out tough periods of the season. Perhaps this is what is needed to build natural leaders for the future.

In conclusion, there are several factors that have contributed to Arsenal’s recent poor form. Injuries, a lack of ruthlessness, defensive frailties, and a lack of leaders/experience on the pitch have all had a negative impact on the team’s performances. Arteta will need to address these issues quickly if Arsenal are to finish the season strongly and perhaps stake a late claim for the title. With five games to go, anything can happen in the Premier League, and Arsenal will need to show character and resilience if they are to turn their season around.

Written by: Farhan Ahmed (@GunnerSince96)