Right now, Arsenal is truly in a state of instability.
They appear to be genuine title contenders in one moment, putting up impressive wins against teams like Manchester City and displaying genuine grit.
But Arsenal still doesn’t seem to be clicking this season. Although the findings are clear, the performances don’t always match up.
Their midfield lacks the true determination and guts we witnessed in their previous campaign, and their attack might appear flimsy at times.
Speaking on TalkSPORT (9/11/23 6:40AM), Adrian Clarke has been analyzing some of Arsenal’s performances this season. According to him, the Gunners sold Granit Xhaka for £30 million in the summer, therefore Arsenal is currently without both Gabriel Jesus and Xhaka.
Arsenal is absent. Xhaka Clarke offered his assessment of Arsenal’s predicament.
Yes, I do believe that Gabriel Jesus’s absence has a major role in it. Up until last night, he had participated in all three Champions League matches, and Arsenal had generally performed admirably in them.
“I believe he has a little bit more, and he brings a chaos factor that no one else can.”
“But, you’re right, they haven’t been as fluid, they haven’t been as cohesive as they were last season.
“Obviously, Xhaka leaving has made a big dent in the team and they’ve not really found the solution yet to who comes in for him.”
Not been replaced
Clarke is absolutely right, Arsenal are missing Xhaka, and that’s because they’ve failed to replace him.
Declan Rice has come in, but he’s been playing more of a holding role than Xhaka ever did, while only Mikel Arteta knows what Kai Havertz’s role is supposed to be in this team.
Xhaka did such a fantastic job last season in knitting together the gap between the defence and the attack, but this term, that ability to make things happen in the final third and overwhelm opposition defences just isn’t there.
Arsenal are missing Xhaka, and it’s not outrageous to suggest that they sold him a tad too early.
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