The available record has it that it is only Everton FC, who recently defeated Arsenal 2-1 has never been relegated in the English Premier League history. So, it won’t be a new thing if Arsenal gets relegated with their current form.
Mikel Arteta has continued to break records in a negative way, losing the same number of games he has won (13 wins and 13 defeats) since taking over at the club last December.
A year into the job, Arsenal find themselves lying in 15th position, four points above relegation places, where they don’t use to be.
Defeat.
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 19, 2020
🔵 2-1 ⚪️ (FT)#EVEARS
With the way the team is going, one can’t be sure of their safety as they currently lack the knack to grind out results against the weakest of their opponents. Looking at the game against Burnley at the Emirate which could have been used as their come back to winning ways, Arsenal blew with indiscipline and they ended up recording their first defeat against Sean Dyche’s men, who has no shot on target throughout the encounter.
Despite finishing the game at Goodison Park with 11 men, Arsenal was playing like a team without purpose as there was no flurry of attacking moves, which has been their trademark whenever they are on the losing side.
This is an Arsenal side that is still seen passing the ball around from the back in need of a win with five minutes added time.
This is Gunners’ worst start to a season since the 1974-75 campaign, getting 14 points from 14 games and they have lost eight of those matches. Apart from that, Arsernal is with a -6 deficit on golals difference.
Arsenal has lacked the goals since the goals of the skipper, Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang dried up. Unfortunately, he couldn’t play against the Toffees after getting injured before the kick-off having ended his goal drought against Southampton.
Why Arsenal may not stay up in the Premier League
Arsenal is currently playing like a team without purpose and zeal. A team that has some of its starting eleven lacking the required attitude to win the game is going nowhere.
For instance, the likes of Nicolas Pepe and Willian are known for looking for the spaces behind defences and exploring them, but that has not been the case. This has made it hard for the midfielders to get spaces to pass the balls into, especially against a team that packed the bus. This has made Arsenal an easy prey for counter-attacking moves.
Imagine a team of Arsenal’s status not being able to score from open play in any of their past five top-flight away games. Pepe, who is the club’s record £72m signing, scored just his second league goal of the season from the penalty spot.
As the team looked shocking in the middle of the pack, it is bereft of creativity. They look awful going through the motions, and not working hard enough.
I wonder what Willian is doing in the team after recording just one shot on target in the last 11 Premier League outing.
Arsenal has shocking stats
Arsenal attacking statistics since the October international break is not surprising. Since October, Arsenal has scored just three goals, recorded 27 shots on targets. These stemmed from 25 percent shot accuracy and a 3 percent shot conversion rate.
Granit Xhaka is already serving his ban. Arteta should just leave him on the bench and try Miguel Azeez who could be an understudy to Mohammed Elneny. The Swiss since the 2017/18 season has the worst statistic in Arsenal. Since the season under review, he has committed 67 fouls, 13 bookings, he has been dribbled past 47 times and lost tackles 24 times.
To make matters worst, most of the fouls he commits are worthless and stupid, especially the latest one that got him suspended against Burnley.
Arsenal also find it hard to close opposing teams down when counter attacking their moves. All these are down to attitude.
Recently, it has been suggested that Mikel Arteta should stop relying on some of these players and give some of the youth players, like Folarin Balogun, Miguel Azeez, Emile Smith-Rowe some first-team chances to prove their worth.
The sight of Pepe seen just jogging around without willingness to enter the box is worrying. It leaves one to wonder why Arteta is relying on such a player bereft of confidence in taking up defenders.
In a team where you have few players giving their all, Arsenal is not going to score.
If Arteta could line up players with the right attitude of Kieran Tierney, David Luiz, Mohammed Elneny, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Gabriel Magaels and Bukayo Saka, there is a likelihood of coming out with a better result as pressure keep mounting on him after each game.
These are some of the little details that are needed to turn matches around and gather points. These lads without purpose and confidence should be left out fo the team and the hungry ones should be given the chance in at least a match to see the difference.
Arsenal won’t want to get relegated, but it is high time Arteta ring some changes or it will be too late to see his team fighting away from relegation instead of Europe.
Do you think Arsenal will be relegated this season? You can leave your comments below.
