Premier League midseason report card: Arsenal
By Ty Finch
Arsenal are in sixth place in the Premier League at the halfway mark. What grade did they get for their performances over the first half of the season?
Arsenal find themselves in unfamiliar territory for the second season running, on the outside looking in at the top four after two decades of Champions League qualification under Arsene Wenger. They find themselves in sixth place in the Premier League at the halfway point, having enjoyed some good, and endured some very bad, stretches of form, with questions about the future of their two best players, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, looming ever larger. In other words, it’s exactly what we expected.
The Good
There are some things to like in the midst of all the turmoil, however. Arsenal’s record signing, Alexandre Lacazette, has looked every bit like the player the club thought he could be. The Frenchman has eights league goals to his name in the first half of the season. He’s a more flexible striker than fellow forward Oliver Giroud, and he offers more in the buildup and on counter-attacks than expected.
Danny Welbeck has been another a positive this season when healthy. While his propensity to fluff easy chances is frustrating, his dynamism and ability to play multiple positions has made him a key piece in the squad. Wenger has often made perplexing lineup changes this season, but his propensity to try and fit Welbeck into the side shouldn’t be confusing to fans anymore. Aaron Ramsey is also in the midst of one of his good seasons. The Welshman can be inconsistent, but he’s been one of Arsenal’s best players this season.
Arsenal’s best player so far is, unsurprisingly, Ozil, second on the team in assists, behind Ramsey, and first in key passes per game. More often than not, if Arsenal have a chance, it’s because of Ozil.
The Bad
The back three Wenger seems insistent upon using is still flawed. Too often, especially against stronger sides like Manchester City or Liverpool, the ultra-attacking nature of the wing-backs leaves the defense bare, inviting counter-attacks that the center-halves and Granit Xhaka can’t handle by themselves. This has often been a problem under Wenger, but the issue is exacerbated by the new formation. The manager has switched to a back four recently, but it hasn’t yet coincided with a significant improvement in form.
Over the past few seasons, Arsenal have looked hopeless against the best teams in the league, and so far this year, that hasn’t changed. While they drew Chelsea 0-0 earlier in the season, they have lost to Liverpool by four goals, City by two and United by two. Call it what you will — a lack of understanding of the squad’s strengths and weaknesses, mental fortitude, leadership or tactics — but, year after year, the Gunners can’t seem to hang with elite teams.
Wenger has made some baffling lineup decisions — like leaving Lacazette on the bench — during those games, and they mostly haven’t paid off. His stubborn nature lead him to force Alex Oxlade-Chamberlin into an wing-back role (and, possibly as a result, out of the club), which in turn shifted natural right-back Hector Bellerin to the left and natural left-back Sead Kolasinac into the back three. Wenger appears to have learned his lesson from that failed experiment, and the players look more comfortable in a back four, but he’s still prone to some strange personnel decisions.
To make matters worse, Sanchez has been out of form, presumably dreaming of greener pastures with his contract set to expire in the summer.
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What’s next?
Arsenal’s problems aren’t new, which only adds to the feeling Wenger needs to leave before the club can make significant progress. The target this season remains qualifying for next season’s Champions League, either by finishing in the top four or by winning the Europa League, but even then, the most supporters can reasonably expect is a quick exit in the knockout rounds.
The club seem to be content with top six finishes as long they’re profitable, as demonstrated by their decision to extend Wenger’s contract last season, although the recent hires of Raul Sanllehi and Sven Mislintat suggest they may be preparing themselves for life after Wenger. In the shorter term, if Arsenal are to contend for the top four, they need to strengthen in midfield and defense, and resolving Ozil and Sanchez’s contract situations wouldn’t hurt either.
Grade
C+: Arsenal have been almost comically predictable this season, and have already lost five games in the league, which leaves them outside the Champions League spots again.