Arsenal a team in permanent transition - and things could get a lot worse

Defeat to Brentford in Premier League opener was both predictable and shocking

Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta applauds Arsenal supporters after the 2-0 defeat to Brentford at the Community Stadium.

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta throws the ball to a playe.

Ben White had a disappointing debut for Arsenal.

Brentford's Ivan Toney in action with Arsenal's Ben White.

Emile Smith Rowe of Arsenal.

Pablo Mari of Arsenal struggled against Brentford.

Arsenal did not collapse into crisis before 18 other Premier League teams had kicked a ball this season. Yet so comprehensive, so both predictable and shocking, was their defeat to Brentford that onlookers could have been forgiven for thinking they had. With their August featuring meetings with Chelsea and Manchester City, there is a plausible scenario that they end it bottom of the division (and maybe even with their earliest League Cup exit since 1978 as well).

All of which could prompt a time of reckoning for Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard’s time in charge of the club he captained has been traumatic and it is wildly incorrect to say he has escaped scrutiny, but he has not felt under pressure. Unai Emery was sacked after fewer games and with a higher win percentage. Arteta has been afforded some understanding, aided by some tactically brilliant victories against elite sides, 2020’s FA Cup win and a fine finish to last season. Only Manchester City picked up more points in the last 15 games and with Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka assuming talismanic roles, it added to the sense of long-termism about Arteta’s overhaul.

Yet it has never been that simple. Last season consisted of short-term gambles to try and bounce back into the Champions League: Willian was a crushing failure, David Luiz’s new deal brought little reward, the £50 million Thomas Partey was often injured and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang got the second most lucrative contract in Arsenal history and, albeit partly because he contracted malaria and his mother was ill, had his least prolific campaign for a decade.

That Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette missed Friday’s loss at Brentford, when the youngster Folarin Balogun led the line, offered a mitigating factor. Yet both strikers are signs that plans have gone awry. Perhaps Arsenal would have accepted offers for either to accelerate the rebuild. Yet, though a broke Barcelona are linked with Aubameyang, both remain. So do Hector Bellerin, Cedric Soares, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, the awful Willian and the utterly unwanted Lucas Torreira and Sead Kolasinac. Arsenal started the summer thinking Granit Xhaka would go. He ended it with a new deal and captaining them at Brentford.

A failure of recruitment and sales alike shows the problems have extended far beyond Arteta. Arsenal’s squad is in a state of permanent flux. This may be the third consecutive transitional season even if Ben White, like Partey, had a £50 million price tag that suggested loftier ambitions. White’s dismal debut was an inauspicious start; the way he was bullied by Ivan Toney revived accusations Arsenal have a soft underbelly. Bernd Leno again looked inferior to Emi Martinez, the goalkeeper they sold last summer. The benched Rob Holding could scarcely have done worse than Pablo Mari. A side lacking leadership and resolve reflected badly on Arteta. Only Kieran Tierney and Smith Rowe should be spared blame.

BRENTFORD RATINGS: David Raya: 7 - The goalkeeper was rarely tested by the opposition, facing few shots from the Gunners. He answered when called upon and played the ball well with his feet from the back.

Kristoffer Ajer: 7 - The recent arrival from Celtic looked assured on the right of the back three on his debut. He was calm on the ball until an injury scare towards the end of the game cut short his debut.

Pontus Jansson: 7 -The Brentford captain patrolled the centre of defence well, bar one or two rash challenges around the box.

Ethan Pinnock: 7 - Pinnock looked secure defensively on the left and often came out from the back with the ball. He added an assist to his impressive display.

Sergi Canos: 9 - The wing-back scored Brentford’s first goal in the top flight in 74 years, driving into the box and scoring a neat near-post finish. He often pushed high up the pitch to help sustain pressure and was rewarded with a goal for his fine performance.

Frank Onyeka: 7 -The box-to-box midfielder put in a good performance on his debut, looking a threat going with the ball, then defending and pressing well without it.

Christian Norgaard: 8 - The midfielder had a good game on the ball and helped double the lead with a header from a long throw into the box.

Vitaly Janelt: 6 -The 23-year-old had a quiet game but picked up the ball in pockets of space. He wasn’t always accurate with his passing when it counted for the Bees.

Rico Henry: 7 -The wing-back covered the left flank both defensively and offensively. He won most of his duels when it mattered and was useful for his side throughout.

Bryan Mbuemo: 8 - His pressing caused issues for the Arsenal defenders, forcing mistakes when high up the pitch. He made a fantastic turn in the box to beat three defenders but couldn’t apply the finish in the first half.

Ivan Toney: 8 - While the striker wasn’t involved in the goals, he was a key part of how Brentford played on the night. He was integral in winning the ball in the air and leading the line for his side, pushing them up the pitch.

SUBS: Mads Sorensen (For Ajer 71’) - 6 - Sorensen came on to help preserve his side’s lead going into the latter stages of the game for the injured Ajer. He had little to do defensively, but caused issues with his long throws.

Mads Bidstrup (For Onyeka 80’) - N/R - Bidstrup had little to do when he came on late in the game to help his side see out the victory.

Marcus Forss (For Mbuemo 86’) - N/R - Forss made a brief appearance for Brentford, replacing Mbuemo to help keep the pressure on late in the game.

ARSENAL RATINGS: Bernd Leno: 5 - The Germany international struggled with the ball at his feet at times. He could have done more to deny Canos at the near post and could have done more to stop the long throw for the second.

Kieran Tierney: 7 - The left-back looked the most secure of his defensive partners, offering a lot down his flank when attacking and putting in quality crosses.

Pablo Mari: 4 -The 27-year-old struggled when under pressure from the Brentford press, making a few mistakes when looking to play out with the ball. He could and should have done more to deny the second goal in the box.

Ben White: 5 - On his Arsenal debut, White came under pressure but showed his passing ability in beating the press very often. He was tested by Toney in the air and could have gotten tighter to him at times, which meant he struggled in a first outing.

Calum Chambers: 4 - Made a mistake that led to the first goal with a poor clearance before failing to close down goalscorer Canos in the box. He struggled throughout the game defensively and didn’t trouble with the ball going forward.

Granit Xhaka: 7 - The Arsenal captain was everywhere for his side on the night, often playing an important role in the way his side built with the ball from defence. It wasn’t only with the ball but without it he also put himself about, winning many of the duels he was involved in.

Albert Sambi Lokonga: 6 - Another debutant, Lokonga was also busy in covering a lot of ground for his side however he wasn’t quite as successful off the ball compared to his midfield partner.

Gabriel Martinelli: 5 - Fresh from an Olympics outing with Brazil, the winger struggled to have an impact on the game with few chances.

Emile Smith Rowe: 7 - Arsenal’s new No 10 looked a threat when he received the ball, always positive in his approach with passing and driving forward.

Nicolas Pepe: 6 - Pepe looked to put himself about and make things happen for the away side. He was always looking to cut-in from the right on his left foot and created a few opportunities for his side.

Folarin Balogun: 4 -It was a tough match for the youngster, who struggled to lead the line for Arsenal. They missed a focal point up front and it just wasn’t the striker’s night as he was subbed off early in the second half.

SUBS: Bukayo Saka (For Balogun 59’) - 7 - Saka caused issues from the bench, often cutting inside from the left and carrying the ball into the box on a number of occasions.

Reiss Nelson (For Martinelli 71’) - 6 - Nelson was a problem for Brentford a few times on the right but he wasn’t able to change the game for Arsenal once they went two goals down.

Nuno Tavares (For Chambers 82’) - N/R - Tavares made a brief appearance in a debut off the bench for Arsenal, getting little time to stamp his authority but he got a shot off from range that could have posed a threat.

Smith Rowe had provided much of the grounds for optimism in the summer. Aston Villa’s bids were spurned, he committed his future to Arsenal and was granted the No 10 shirt. Sunday’s meeting with Chelsea is a reminder of his breakthrough performance last season, in December’s 3-1 victory, and his winner in May’s rematch, yet the reality was Arteta stumbled on a homegrown solution half way through last season.

With his preference for overly structured football, the Spaniard can seem a meticulous organiser. His strategising peaked against Chelsea, in Arsenal’s FA Cup glory in August 2020. August 2021 began with Arsenal’s plans seemingly in disarray and a fixture list that suggests things could get worse before they get better. It has been a recurring theme in Arsenal’s wilderness years.