Sporting CP vs Arsenal FC - Observations

#4 Arsenal lack width up front

Henrikh has failed to showcase the form from his last season at Dortmund since his departure and must step up for the side.

When fit, the fullbacks Monreal and Bellerin bomb forward to act as proxy wingers during attacking transitions and help others to drift into spaces created in the centre and exploit the gaps created in the backline.

But Arsenal midfielders looked bereft of ideas on who to pass forward to tonight as Lichsteiner whilst being solid even at 34, is not Bellerin, and while he still gets ahead, he doesn't play the same role and is more defensive than his junior, and Xhaka did not make too many attacking forays deep in opposition territories, and this revealed how much Arsenal lack width up front.

A drifting Aubameyang and Welbeck offer a solid option, but the club needs a serious upgrade on the flanks if they are to be serious contenders against sides like Liverpool, Chelsea etc. as Mkhitaryan has shown to be a very patchy player who cannot be relied on to make a weekly impact, and one injury to Alex Iwobi would leave the club in serious jeopardy with no other player of the same ilk is available to play the role he does in the side. Iwobi needs competition and cover ASAP.