Not so long ago Arsenal were title favourites. Now hopes of a first championship since 2004 are crumbling thanks to a slump that has encompassed three competitions. Richard Jolly examines reasons why they have won just three games in 11 attempts.
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
LOSS OF NERVE
Arsenal’s mental strength has often been questioned over the years. Sometimes they have proved their doubters wrong. Of late, they have found contrasting ways of displaying the wrong attitude. They have been short of confidence since losing to Barcelona. Despite that, they seemed complacent when they faced a youthful Manchester United side. They have not been ruthless, failing to convert any of 22 chances against Southampton and scoring only one of 18 against Swansea. They have a habit of starting slowly — they have been behind at half-time five times in the last 11 matches — and then find themselves chasing games. Sometimes they leave themselves with too much to do but, after taking the lead, they also conceded a vital last-minute against Liverpool. It seemed a costly carelessness.
LOSS OF FORM
If individual excellence, within a collective framework, is required to win the title, too many of Arsenal’s key players are out of sorts. Alexis Sanchez has not scored a league goal since October. Theo Walcott has only struck once in 15 games. Olivier Giroud is in the midst of his longest Arsenal drought. Francis Coquelin has not returned to his best since recapturing fitness and Aaron Ramsey has been underwhelming over the past six weeks. In defence, Per Mertesacker endured a harrowing evening against Barcelona and Gabriel was still worse at Old Trafford. Add it up and too many players have been below par.
LOSS OF LUCK
It seems axiomatic that struggling teams complain that fortune is not favouring them. Arsenal may have a point. They struck the woodwork three times against Swansea on Wednesday and lost 2-1. They have had a series of penalty appeals rejected in recent weeks and they keep on encountering in-form goalkeepers, with Stoke’s Jack Butland, Southampton’s Fraser Forster and Hull’s Eldin Jakupovic all excelling in 0-0 draws. The alternative argument, however, is that the top teams make their own luck.
LOSS OF PLAYERS
Injuries and Arsenal can feel constants. If they are not alone in seeing too many players sidelined this season — Liverpool and both Manchester clubs can voice the same complaint — those absences have come at a cost. They are missing Santi Cazorla grievously. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is out yet again. Sanchez and Coquelin have returned to fitness, but not form after spells on the sidelines. Danny Welbeck’s season did not start until Valentine’s Day while Jack Wilshere’s is yet to begin. They go into Saturday’s North London derby without the two key men in their defensive system, with both Laurent Koscielny and Petr Cech out, the goalkeeper after sustaining a groin injury when going up for a corner against Swansea in a desperate bid to score an equaliser.
LOSS OF GOALS
It is not simply the fact that Arsenal have conceded seven goals in their last 200 minutes of football that is damning. It is the manner of many of them. They have a particular susceptibility to the crossed ball, which led to both of Marcus Rashford’s double for United and Ashley Williams’ winner for Swansea. The lack of protection in front of the back four was also apparent in Ander Herrera’s goal at Old Trafford while Barcelona, Chelsea and Leicester have exposed a high defensive line.
MORE LOSSES
Ultimately, it comes down to the results. Arsenal’s have been too poor. They have lost three successive games for the first time since 2010. They have lost four of their past 11 league games and seven in total this season. No team has won the title with as many defeats since Everton in 1987 and with trips to Tottenham, Everton, West Ham and Manchester City to come, it is hard to envisage them going through the rest of the season unbeaten.
