Same-old Arsenal, same-old problems

After yet another slow start to the Premier League campaign, Arsenal finally got their season underway with a 1-3 win at Watford, but a lot of Arsenal fans and football pundits are not entirely convinced about Arsenal’s chances this season. For the last 10 years, every season at Arsenal has started with a great deal of optimism and a lot of unfulfilled promises and this season looks like it’s not going to be any different. Last season was probably one of the best chances Arsenal have had to win the title and they did what Arsenal do best: they messed it up and if it was not for Newcastle on the last day of the previous season they would have finished below Tottenham. That would have been a new low for everyone involved with Arsenal football club considering the rivalry and hate between the two clubs.

Despite Arsenal making some good signings in the form of Grannit Xhaka, Rob Holding, Shkodran Mustafi, and Lucas Perez it does not look like these players can match up to what the Manchester clubs and Chelsea have signed after a disappointing 2015-2016 campaign. They really needed to make a statement, and they did so by spending nearly of €400 million combined on the best players and managers football has to offer right now and to top it off all three teams have had a perfect start to the Premier League so far.

Arsenal too have spent a considerable amount of money this season surprisingly, but they haven't bought all the right players. Granit Xhaka has shown us glimpses of what he is capable of with his pinpoint passing and his commanding presence in midfield, but it still looks as though Wenger is not entirely convinced as to who should partner him with Wenger first playing Coquelin then Santi Cazorla alongside him.

Arsenal signing Mustafi was very much expected after a long transfer saga, and he looks exactly like the player Arsenal need in their defense. Mustafi has earned a reputation as one of the most rock-solid center backs in La Liga and looks tailor made for the rigors of the Premier league. If he can manage to link up well with Koscielny and if they can get the basics of defending right, Arsenal can finally fill that void that has been haunting them in defense for years. But let’s not get our hopes high as Arsenal always find a way to disappoint their fans.

Another area of concern for Arsenal over the years has been that they do not have a proven goal scorer. For the last two seasons they have been dependent on Giroud who is good but not a striker who can win you the league. Wenger did try Sanchez in that position and he did impress against Watford but he is not a proven center forward and it showed in his game against Leicester city. Sanchez is a much better player when he plays out wide. Danny Welbeck could be have been that striker for Arsenal this season and we saw glimpses of that towards the end of last season until injury ruled him out for most of this year.

Arsenal did make a statement by spending €20 million on Lucas Perez but I don't think he is the kind of striker they need. Considering all the transfer targets they had in mind and the fact that Arsenal deemed Lucas Perez not good enough a month ago says a lot. Wenger described him as a late developer and Perez did score 17 goals with Deportivo la Coruna scoring last season so it will be interesting to see where Wenger plays him though I doubt he will start regularly for Arsenal.

Perez who can operate on the wing, as well as a center forward is a welcome change as someone who can make runs in behind the defence but he just does not look like the striker who can win us the league. Despite Wenger saying, he is not a panic buy one can clearly say that he is considering the pressure from the fans for a striker since forever and the fact that we were targeting the likes of Lacazette, Higuain, and Icardi at the start of the transfer window.

Wenger will have to use this international break to the fullest to get his team on track as they clearly still have a lot of work to do if they are to catch up to their rivals. Arsenal have a difficult September coming up with a home game against Southampton followed by what’s going to be a crucial Champions League match against PSG. They end the month with a trip to Stamford Bridge and visiting Chelsea is never a joy for any Arsenal fan. Arsenal really need to take their game to the next level, and they need to do it soon or it will be another trophyless season.

As each Premier League goes by every team looks to improve on the previous season and the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and even West Ham have taken huge strides in that direction by spending huge amounts on transfer fees. Arsenal, on the other hand, look to be going in the opposite direction. Despite all the signings and promises I feel this season will be too much for them to just sneak a fourth place finish. Arsene Wenger has been at the club for 20 years now and he has made his mark at Arsenal but there is only so much one can do. If Arsenal want to improve and take their club to the next level and once again challenge the very best teams they need a change in management and they need to show that they are not afraid to spend like the other clubs do.