Arsenals dismantling at the hands of liverpool has shown that all is not well at the North London club.

Arsenal fans have every reason to be optimistic this season. Arsene Wenger’s side have been resurrecting their form of old. Mesut Ozil’s arrival into the team has totally changed the way the Gunners play adding more creativity into a side that was in danger of being pushed out of contention for the title race. But all is not well for the North Londoners of late. Their dismantling at the hands of Liverpool spoke volumes of how ineffective they were against teams who were majestic in possession and lethal on the counter. The rock solid duo of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny were made to look like a division side as Luis Suarez and Co ran riot at Anfield.

But what would concern Wenger more is the fixtures that are on the horizon. A midweek game against reigning champions Manchester United after which they would entertain Liverpool for a weekend FA Cup clash followed by the arrival of European Champions Bayern Munich to the Emirates is hardly the sort of itinerary a manager would love to have. Although Wenger would claim that he has the team to compete on all three fronts i.e Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, a good look at the Gunners over the last month would indicate otherwise.

Winter signing Kim Kallstrom was signed to provide cover for the prolific Aaron Ramsey who had been ruled out with a thigh injury. What was deemed to be a shrewd signing blew up in Arsenal’s faces as the Swede was found to be carrying a back injury that would rule him out of what is easily the most testing period in Arsenal’s season.

This time last season, Arsenal fans were in fury as their manager had signed only Nacho Monreal from Malaga, making him ineligible for the Champions League. The result was there to see as Wenger had to play Thomas Vermaelen at left back in their round of 16 clash against Bayern Munich. The Germans exploited that weakness to the maximum as two of their three goals came as a result of an overload on Vermaelen’s flank.

Vermaelen endured a torrid evening at the hands of Arjen Robben and co

Vermaelen endured a torrid evening at the hands of Arjen Robben and co in 2013. (image source: TheEpochTimes)

 

An added area of concern is of the fact that Arsenal have only one out and out striker in Olivier Giroud. The Frenchman has been in prime form for the Londoners and has helped banish the ghost of Robin Van Persie’s departure to Manchester United last season, but has looked jaded over the last month. The return of German Lukas Podolski is a godsend for Wenger, but will it really be enough to test quality defences like Liverpool and Bayern is the question. Also the setback suffered in the form of Theo Walcott’s season ending injury will play on the minds of Wenger and the fans alike. The England winger’s ability to run at defences and provide natural width is something that Bayern are not exactly comfortable with. 

The striking department has been crying for a second striker to account for Giroud’s poor form or injury during the winter transfer window, but when other clubs were busy making moves to strengthen their squads, Arsenal chose to be passive. It is almost a no-brainer that Wenger will choose to play his first choice 11 in all of the three games against United, Liverpool and Bayern respectively.

With a growing injury list which includes Ramsey and Vermaelen to add to the suspended Mathieu Flamini, the manner in which Arsenal negotiate these three vital fixtures will determine whether they can truly live up to the title of contenders or risk being named as also-rans in what could be another disappointing season.

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