Arsenal are a club in crisis. Despite outspending their Premier League rivals this summer, the Gunners’ nightmare start to the season continued with Manchester City beating them 5-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. And, for a club of this size, that simply isn’t good enough.
Arsenal went into their game against Manchester City on a high having beaten West Brom in the Carabao Cup last week.
But they fell to a third successive Premier League defeat at the Etihad, with City running riot.
Ilkay Gundogan and Ferran Torres put the hosts 2-0 up inside 12 minutes, with Gabriel Jesus then scoring before the interval.
Rodri then added a fourth for City in the 53rd minute before Torres notched his second of the game with six minutes left on the clock.
For Arsenal, it was a nightmare defeat that has now seen them rooted to the bottom of the table.
So Express Sport will now take a look at the reasons Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke has to think about sacking Arteta after the shambolic result in Manchester.
THINK YOU KNOW SPORT? Test your sporting knowledge with our tricky quiz
Strange decisions
Beating City was always going to be a tall order given the riches Pep Guardiola has at his disposal.
And Arsenal didn’t give themselves a chance when Arteta picked Sead Kolasinac from the start at the Etihad.
That was strange. And so too was the decision to deploy Martin Odegaard in a flat midfield role, which he clearly isn’t suited to.
Moving Emile Smith Rowe to the flanks was bizarre, too, given the way he’s been a shining light in the No 10 position.
And if Arteta keeps setting his team up like this, then more defeats are destined to come.
No fight
As stated above, Arsenal weren’t expected to beat City.
But, at the very least, they were expected to make a fight of things. Obviously, in the end, that didn’t happen.
Falling 2-0 down inside 12 minutes showed a team that has no confidence, no backbone and no spine.
There was no signs of leaders, either. Granit Xhaka was dismissed while Aubameyang cut an anonymous figure at the spearhead of their attack.
And if Arsenal can’t fight, they may find themselves being dragged into a relegation battle. Maybe, just maybe, they’re already in one.
Money blown
It’s still early to judge Arsenal’s summer signings.
But the reinforcements Arteta has added to his squad simply aren’t good enough, something the defeat to City showed.
Cedric isn’t a good right-back. Odegaard was flat.
And then, on the bench, the likes of Pablo Mari, Nuno Tavares, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Aaron Ramsdale didn’t even feature.
Arteta doesn’t seem to trust the players he’s brought in to play against one of the Premier League’s best sides. And that, quite simply, suggests he’s a manager well out of his depth.
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
