Arsenal stumbled to back to back loss in the Premier League as they were overtaken by Tottenham Hotspur in the process in the race for top four finish in the Premier League this season.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Granit Xhaka. Photo Credits: Getty
Arsenal’s quest to make the top four and return to the Champions League is now in serious doubt after injury to significant players in the first team.
Thomas Partey and Kieran Tierney have both sustained injury that saw the later ruled out for the rest of the season while chances the former will be involved in the remaining games is uncertain.
Throughout Arsenal’s good spell of form, Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka’s presence in the middle of the park was key and the Gunners have won a good percentage of the games where the two have started together while they have struggled without their midfield duo.
The two have formed a partnership that helped Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal dictate the tempo in games with their ball winning abilities and passing. Partey especially affects the game positively with his quick turnings, and setting up the attackers with acres of space to explore.
The absence of the Ghanian was obviously felt in the 2-1 home loss to Brighton last weekend but Mikel Arteta could have avoided the disaster had he choose not to disregard the facts about the details of Arsenal’s midfield.
Sambi Lokonga of Arsenal tackles Danny Welbeck of Brighton during a Premier League game at the Emirates. (Photo by Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty Images)
Xhaka and Partey appear the only two Arsenal centre midfielders capable of competing in the Premier League. Even at that, they struggled when one of them is not available and in last Saturday’s loss to Brighton, Arteta choose to play the only available centre midfielder capable of influencing the game, in left back.
The decision did not age in favour of the Spaniard as Brighton’s midfield of Yves Bissouma, Enock Mwepu and Pascal Gross was too strong for the Arsenal’s crop in the middle of the park while the defence was also left vulnerable.
More trouble may come Arsenal way if Arteta continues to play away from the facts as returning Xhaka back to midfield will be key for the Gunners to stand any chance of getting their season back on track as the run in continue to heat up.
Arsenal travel to Saint Mary’s on Saturday afternoon to face Southampton, who are without a win in each of their last six games, losing five including a 6-0 humiliation in the hands of Chelsea last Saturday.
It is a must win game for the Gunners, who will still play Chelsea and Manchester United later this month.
Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi
