To say Arsenal have made a horrible start would be an understatement. In fact, it is their worst start to a season in the club’s entire history. The capitulation at the Etihad a week and a half ago was particularly concerning for the fans. They were never fancied to get anything out of the game, but after the red card, all hell broke loose.
But while all Arsenal fans collectively are worried, this isn’t entirely new territory the club has entered. Arsenal have suffered heavy defeats before, and their 8-2 mauling at the hands of Manchester United exactly a decade ago was arguably even more embarrassing than this season’s counterpart. Arsenal’s current situation is somewhat similar to what it was in that season.
Both defeats were suffered in the third week of the season, and Arsenal hadn’t won or scored in the two matches prior to that. Both losses came in Manchester, at the home of arguably the best team on the land at the time of those matches. In both defeats, the Gunners saw red. The task now for the current crop is to keep the trend from that season going, i.e., respond in spectacular fashion.
In the 2011/12 season, after this humiliating loss, Arsene Wenger’s men picked up the pieces to produce a solid season, finishing third. They only finished behind the two Manchester clubs who were honestly in a league of their own. Arsenal must look back at that season to draw positivity and make sure they put up a fight.
Is there hope for Arsenal?
Of course, comparing Arsenal from a decade ago to now is unfair. The only surviving member of that Arsenal team is Mikel Arteta, who is the manager now. The team 10 years ago was much stronger than today, on paper at least, even though they had lost Cesc Fabregas in the summer of that season. And of course, there was Arsene Wenger. There was always a reassurance that Arsenal will do fine, even if he adopted a conservative approach in the transfer market. Such reassurance is sorely missing in Mikel Arteta.
He is still a young and inexperienced manager who has come in and tried to change the club’s philosophy. He has tried to make Arsenal a defensively solid unit, which is a bit surprising given he knows the club’s DNA and that he was an understudy of Pep Guardiola, a manager renowned for attacking football. His philosophy worked last season, as despite finishing eighth, Arsenal had the third best defense behind only Man City and Chelsea.
Another problem with this Arsenal team is the players. Most of the current crop are young players looking for guidance from some of the senior players. But the likes of Granit Xhaka, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alex Lacazette are letting the young guns down. The older men must take responsibility and step forward.
The old Arsenal team had a certain Robin Van Persie, whose form was critical in Arsenal’s surge to third. He finished the campaign with 29 goals and the Golden Boot. This Arsenal also has a prolific goal scorer in Aubameyang. He still has an incredible goal scoring ratio and will be crucial if Arsenal are to bounce back.
Conclusion
If they did it before, they can do it again. But to do that, the experienced players will have to step up so that their younger counterparts can thrive. A lot of money has been spent this season and if Arsenal are to avoid a second straight season outside Europe, they must wake up and respond.