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Paul Merson has questioned whether Arsenal are making any improvements with coach Mikel Arteta, saying the Gunners are nothing more than a Premier League team in the middle of the table.
There’s a lot of concern about the Gunners’ recent form: They have only one win in their last five Premier League games and have only scored once, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s winning penalty at Manchester United, during that run as well.
Talking to Sky sports, Merson is struggling to see what Arsenal are trying to achieve with Arteta …
Sunday, November 29 7:00 p.m.
Start 7:15 pm
‘Arsenal was a million miles from Leeds’
Luke Ayling and Willian compete for possession early in the first half
Some people say step forward, step back. One step back? That’s something.
They were a million miles from Leeds last Sunday.
He did Arsenal a favor when Nicolás Pepe was sent off, then Leeds ran out of ideas because Arsenal had to sit deeply.
Just a couple of weeks earlier, Leicester went to Leeds and gave them four. Leeds let in goals. The teams that beat them are the teams with players who can slide past their defenders; Arsenal don’t have that.
‘Aubameyang brings nothing to the party’
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has struggled to find goals this season
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is bringing absolutely nothing to the party at the moment. He played central and was ineffective as before.
You watch them and think they are a middle team.
Looking back on that victory at Manchester United, it doesn’t look so good now. I didn’t even get started at Manchester United, it’s no big deal to go there and get a result right now.
Are Arsenal improving?
Where is Arsenal going? People say you can see what Arteta is trying to do, but I’m not sure.
I saw Leeds and you can see what they are doing. Some of their passes and movements, you can tell they have worked on that, but I don’t see that with Arsenal.
Where are they strong?
They are not dominant in the back. Thomas Partey is a good player and they have missed him, he should make a difference when he is back, but up front they don’t send the ball to the extremes.
Aubameyang plays up front and doesn’t touch the ball. The ball is not run.
‘Arteta doesn’t know her best team’
Liverpool is great because they are the best team in the world to run without the ball. With Arsenal, everything is at your feet.
They will not run without the ball, and if they do, it is a symbolic gesture of running, and no one will be removed from their position.
When Salah, Mane, Firmino run, they will run, so whoever marks them has to go with them, and there will be room for someone else.
It’s very, very easy to play against Arsenal right now and it doesn’t help that I don’t know who their strongest team is.
Five troubling statistics for Arsenal …
David Luiz and Dani Ceballos were reportedly involved in a confrontation at the training ground.
So what do the stats say about Arsenal’s recent struggles?
A low point for the Gunners
The last time Arsenal had fewer points after nine Premier League games was in 1994/95. No team with 13 points or less after nine games has won the national crown.
Lowest goal count in 34 years
Arsenal have scored just nine goals so far this season, only Sheffield United, Burnley and West Brom have scored fewer. It’s the Gunners’ lowest tally after nine games since they scored six in 1986/87.
The drought continues …
It has been seven hours and 56 minutes since Arteta’s side scored in open play in the Premier League, a problem that has only really emerged during this campaign.
Too choppy and change?
Arsenal have made 22 top-of-the-league changes in their Premier League starting XI this term, a stark contrast to the modest three made by Aston Villa.
Passing problems vs Leeds
Arsenal rarely got into positions to even threaten Leeds’ goal last Sunday and it’s a recurring problem, with the Gunners now scoreless in four of their last five Premier League games.
Despite having to play most of the second half with 10 men after Pepe’s dismissal, it is a problem that can be highlighted by his passing struggles at Elland Road.
The player with the most completions to Aubameyang in Leeds was goalkeeper Bernd Leno with five.
Meanwhile, Granit Xhaka missed a pass to Joe Willock, making just three to Ceballos. Willock was unable to complete a single pass to Xhaka, only two to Ceballos and none to Aubameyang.
Watch Arsenal vs Wolves live on Sunday on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event; Start 7.15pm
Launch-to-post preview: Chelsea and Spurs are title contenders ?; Plus Manchester United ‘Leader’ Bruno Fernandes, Arsenal’s Creativity Issues & More!
This week on the Pitch to Post preview podcast, Peter smith is joined by Michael Bridge Y Charlotte Marsh to look forward to a highly successful London derby between title contenders Chelsea and Tottenham, James cooper explains how Bruno Fernandes has become the leader of Manchester United, and we look at Arsenal’s creativity issues.
More, Tim thornton has the latest from Leeds and Sheffield United, including the story of how the Blades almost signed Diego Maradona! Charlotte then makes her daring pitch for what she thinks will happen in Premier League action this weekend …
Listen to the launch of Sky Sports to publish the podcast on: Spotify | Apple | Castbox
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