BAD NEWS TO ALL ARSENAL FANS AFTER DEVASTATING NEWS EMERGE.

Arsenal were last relegated from the top division in 1912-13, but since returning to the top flight in 1919-20, they have enjoyed more than a century of unbroken status among English football’s elite.

However, a look at the progress since Mikel Arteta took charge of the club shows cause for concern.

There are basic fundamentals that need to be addressed lest the prestigious clubs find themselves in another relegation scrap in the 2021/2022 English Premier League (EPL).

The Gunners are currently down in 10th place with 38 points after 27 matches.

Notably, the North-London-based club has won as many matches as it has lost (11).

Here’s a look at 5 things that need to be addressed if Arsenal is to avoid a clumsy relegation in the coming season.

The Ghost of Defensive Blunders
Ask any Arsenal fan what the club’s biggest threat to success and you are likely to get ‘defense’ as the answer from the majority of them.

This is in reference that Arsenal has the tendency to shoot itself on the foot more often than not.

As recently as March 11, 2021, during a Europa League match against Greek side Olympiakos, Arsenal seemed to be in cruise control having gone a goal up via a raspy shot from January loanee signing, Martin Odegaard.

However, a lapse in concentration by Dani Ceballos following a pass from the goalkeeper, Bernd Leno resulted in a gift of a goal for the Greek side, bringing the match level at 1-1.

The number of similar incidents during the course of the 2020/2021 EPL campaign involving Arsenal players are well documented, and numerous.

Building up from the back has its advantages. However, it needs a very disciplined and cohesive unit at the back that is ready to lump the ball up the field when need arises.

Known as La Salida Lavolpiana (La Volpe’s exit), building from the back was a concept christened by the former Argentine coach Ricardo La Volpe.

In La Volpe’s method, he would make sure a player dropped into defence to create a numerical advantage against the first line of the opponent.

For this to work at Arsenal, the players at Arteta’s disposal may need to be replaced or drilled into perfecting the art.

New signing Gabriel Marghalaes looks solid enough to make it work but the aging David Luiz (arguably Arsenal’s most efficient passer of the ball in defence) cannot be relied on as a starter for the coming season.

Luckily, the club does have a host of young and promising defenders waiting in the wings namely Rob Holding, William Saliba and Pablo Mari.

As for coaching the individual errors out of the players, it remains the single most important factor when it comes to predicting the club’s future success.

If they are to progress further in the coming season then they will need to stamp out those costly errors.

Arsenal’s encouraging form is being undermined by a failure to do the basics.

“Arsenal’s back three will always give you a chance,” Jamie Redknapp told Sky Sports.

Transfer Window Ultimatum
During the January 2021 transfer window, Mikel Arteta was praised by Arsenal fans as he finally let go of players under the ‘deadwood’ tag.

Mesut Ozil, Sokratis and Mustafi all left, with Joe Willock and Ainsley Maitland-Niles securing loan stints at Newcastle and West Bromwich Albion respectively.

This opened up room for securing the service of Norwegian star Odegaard from Real Madrid (on loan).

Before Arsenal’s miserable run of form leading up to the crucial win against Chelsea on boxing day 2020, fans and pundits alike were calling for a creative midfielder.

The obvious lack of creativity in the final third was clear for all to see.

This explains why the deployment of Emile Smith Rowe in the number 10 role coupled with Odegaard signing coincided with a run of decent performances.

The club’s strikers were finally getting the service they had been craving for the entire 1st half of the season.

However, it is important to note that Odegaard is at the club on loan and an over reliance on Smith-Rowe is not a sustainable model for success.

Arteta will have to go into the 2021 summer transfer window knowing fully well that his second full season in charge could make or break him.

Whether the club has enough funds to secure a top midfielder is reliant on a myriad of factors including whether or not they actually secure a spot in one of the European elite competitions.

Squad Depth Question
When Arsenal allowed Sead Kolasinac to head out on loan in the January 2021 transfer window, eyebrows were raised.

This was because the club was left without a left-back as the regular starter, Kieran Tierney, was still making his comeback from an injury layoff.

Arteta was forced to field players out of position which resulted in some abysmal results.

This highlighted the issue of squad depth and its importance when it comes to the EPL.

Recently, Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho said his side are “a different club” compared to the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City, adding he isn’t jealous of their depth in squad talent.

“Come on, it is what it is. We cannot have a squad like some other teams. It’s not us. I was watching Man City [against Aston Villa] and I looked to the bench – [Raheem] Sterling, Bernardo Silva, [Ilkay] Gundogan, [Nicolas] Otamendi. You know?” he stated.

With matches at times coming after every 3 days, the EPL has been described as the most physically demanding football league in the world.

Teams that end up challenging for top honours more often than not have at least 2 squads in their ranks so as to be able to step in when needed.

Currently, Arsenal’s squad depth is wanting, with any sort of injury to a key player most likely resulting in a dip in form for the entire team.

Waiting for the mistake remains a tactic well worth pursuing against Arteta’s side. Until he is able to make the necessary changes – to the personnel and the mentality, something he has personally acknowledged.

Final Third Efficiency
Chances can often be at a premium in Premier League fixtures and the presence of players capable of taking opportunities is essential to any side with ambitions of success in England’s top tier football.

Arsenal had hoped to challenge the top four this season but their expected goals records will be of huge concern to Arteta and his coaching team, both figures steeped in mid-table mediocrity.

It is the story of Arsenal’s season more or less that fine margins have come to define their dropped points due to an inability to be clinical when it counts.

Arteta has rightfully called on his players to be more ruthless if they are to find their way back to the higher end of the EPL table.

Growth of Rival Teams
What sets the EPL apart is the hot competition for the EPL title. In most European leagues, the title is often a matter of interest for two rival clubs, maybe three, but in the EPL, there are often six clubs who could realistically be crowned champions.

Think about that for a moment. From Leicester to surprise packages such as West Ham and Everton, the 2020/2021 EPL season has seen teams punching well above their weight.

This means that Arsenal’s progression has to go hand in hand with that of its direct rivals.

The world of football changed in June 2003, when Russian Billionaire Roman Abramovich became the owner of the companies that control Chelsea Football Club in West London.

What came next was a crazy infusion of billions of Sterling Pounds in a bid to assemble the best team in the land.

Other teams soon aped the blueprint with billionaires taking over teams such as Manchester City and Leicester City.

From then on, club success went hand in hand with money spent in the transfer market be it on players or world-class managers such as Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola.

Arsenal was also taken over by an American tycoon, Stan Kroenke. However, despite record-breaking buys over the last few years, the club has been struggling to keep up with its direct rivals in the transfer market.

Conclusion
Arsenal has been struggling domestically but its Europa League campaign continues to show signs of promise

The Gunners have won eight of their nine European games this season, and are the highest scorers in the competition with 27 goals.

But while relegation would clearly be an unmitigated disaster for Arsenal, finishing in the bottom half of the Premier League, outside the European qualification places, is a scenario that will also hurt.

Arteta believes his players need to show more fight instead of feeling sorry for themselves if they are to turn things around.

“Normally when [a bad run] ­happens you have two types of ­people – fighters and victims,” he stated back in December 2020.

Wenger’s achievement of leading Arsenal to a top-four finish every year of his reign and into the Champions League for 19 consecutive seasons is worthy of celebration.

Arsenal’s next big test comes in the mould of Jose Mourinho’s resurgent Tottenham Hotspur side on Sunday, March 14.

The match, which will be broadcasted live on all Showmax platforms , is seen as a real test of the character within Arteta’s team.
Pundits across the world have been talking about a shift of power in North London based on Spurs finishing above Arsenal over the last couple of seasons.

7 points separate the two rivals with the Lily Whites dubbed as slight favorites based on current form.

On the other hand, Arsenal are quick to point out that when it comes to derbies, form counts for nought. “It’s all about who wants it more on the day,” a fan pointed out.

Arsenal have the chance to close the gap on seventh-placed Tottenham to just four points with victory in this 168th top-flight meeting between the two.

The gunners currently boast the all-time edge in this particular derby with (W66, D47, L54).

Source: Kenyans.co.ke