As Arsène Wenger used to say about his later teams, confidence is a fragile thing. It takes a long time to build it up, but just a moment to shatter it. And something has happened over the past week to change the narrative on Arsenal FC.
Successive defeats is something this club hasn’t been used to for well over a year now. But it can happen to the best of sides; even the mighty Manchester City suffered the same fate just weeks ago. However, this feels different. Against West Ham, Arsenal at least dominated possession and could deem themselves ‘unlucky’ not to have converted any of their many chances into goals. At Craven Cottage the performance was… well; craven. An early goal was not a sign of things to come, and it soon became clear that Fulham had the upper hand tactically.
And this is a problem. Because it seems to me that Arteta and Arsenal have been rumbled. Now, it’s ok to be predictable if you’re so good that it doesn’t matter, but Arsenal’s weaknesses are beginning to be exploited by supposed ‘inferior’ teams. Let’s go through those:
The single pivot - good as he is. The lack of genuine full backs - leading to overlaps - and the fact that those at right and left back are often left exposed because the wingers are asked to play high and wide, and therefore cannot get back in time to cover. The lack of a genuine focal point up front. And a shortage of goal threats.
Opposing managers are ensuring that they they can lure Arsenal on to them, ferry them down dead ends and into crowded spaces, and then exploit the spaces in behind as moves break down. But when Arsenal have been at their best it’s been because they’ve done their work quickly and efficiently, and for much of this year it’s all been a little bit ponderous.
Now I’m certainly not knocking Declan Rice in all this. And I’m starting to see the worth of Kai Havertz (on a good day, anyway). But it turns out that the loss of Granit Xhaka has had a massive effect on the team. In addition, Arsenal have really missed Thomas Partey; an immense midfield presence, but one who is so often injured that he cannot be relied on.
And on top of this… there have been flashes where we’ve seen why Arteta wanted David Raya. But, as they say: if it ain’t broke… Aaron Ramsdale had been critical to not just the way Arsenal played last season, but his personality had rubbed off on the side. In attempting to exercise more ‘control’ over proceedings, Arteta has sacrificed a lot of the spontaneity that made Arsenal such a great team to watch last season.
And so to Fulham away; and I’ll start with the changes to the starting line-up: Kivior - another centre back - in for the injured Zinchenko. Havertz back in for Trossard. And Eddie getting a start in place of Jesus.
In the case of the first change, Arteta was stymied by a lack of options, but neither Kivior nor the returning Tomiyasu can play the inverted full back role like Zinchenko can. And none of them can defend like a full back needs to do. Havertz is talented, for sure, but feels to me like a ‘luxury’ player at times. His work isn’t always obvious to the eye, and he sometimes disappears from games almost entirely. As for Eddie; I felt sorry for him, he’s the closest to a target man that the team has, but there was no change in plan in order to exploit those skills and he was either making runs that were being ignored during ponderous build-ups, or being sent down dead ends by the Fulham defenders.
At the back, Arsenal were continually exploited on the break. Rice was often left exposed and to cover too much ground as the Arsenal defence was stretched in ‘transition’. And you know you’re in trouble when Antonee Robinson looks good!
There wasn’t enough bite in midfield, for all that Odegaard puffed and panted, and the wingers were often stranded upfield when moves broke down. It wasn’t a pretty sight.
Despite the early goal - which was something of a false dawn (Martinelli hitting the by-line and getting in a shot that broke to his opposite winger) - it was clear that there was something missing. Something that has been lost in the previous game. None of that vim and verve that has characterised recent Arsenal teams was present.
It was no surprise when Fulham equalised. Nor was the manner of it a surprise. A swift break, full use of the width of the field, and Jimenez arriving on Kivior’s blind side for a well-taken finish. To be frank, from then on all Arsenal did was huff and puff, and whilst there was an element of good fortune and pinball about Fulham’s second - another conceded at a set piece - it also felt not only inevitable but also that Arsenal were never going to turn things around from that point.
This Fulham fan has achieved legendary status on the back of that second goal, by the way:
At this point I’m going to bring up something that is really starting to bug me about our Manager. And that’s his unwillingness to give Emile Smith Rowe a fair crack of the whip. Here’s a guy who at his best can carry the ball into enclosed spaces at speed and cause damage, and yet he got just 15 minutes on Thursday, and none in this game. I don’t understand this. At least give him a shot! Because nothing else is working currently.
So what now? As Arteta said in his interview: ‘Worst performance of the season’. And who is going to disagree with that? And as Declan Rice said in his interview, the team needs to ‘reset’. But how?
From what we are hearing, Ivan Toney is going nowhere this month. Alternatives to him are going to be very difficult to locate without being forced to pay a premium that FFP will not allow the club to do. Injured players like Timber and Partey still seem too far away to be able to help in the short term. So a lot of work needs to be done in order for the team to regain its momentum. From perhaps looking title favourites a week ago, Arsenal are suddenly only third favourites at best, and in need of a change of direction.
There’s lots of #ArtetaOut nonsense on social media. Perhaps a natural reaction to the past couple of games. But that’s not going to happen, obviously. Nonetheless, the Manager has got a lot of thinking to do. In a way, it’s fortunate that the team has just two matches in the next three weeks. But, unfortunately, one is that massive FA Cup tie against Liverpool next week. There’ll be no Salah, at least, but that’s pretty much as tough as you can get. And with a lack of confidence in the side, I’m not looking forward to it.
It’s time for some Transfer Window magic. And so, I continue to maintain; COYG!
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