There was a moment during the 3–0 loss at Crystal Palace on Monday which summed up Arsenal’s current problems so perfectly, no protest or chant or tweet or YouTube video could improve on it.
Yet all it was, was an ever–so–slightly over-hit through ball.
4. Why does all of this sum up Arsenal’s problems so perfectly?
Well, for the whole of the second half, Arsenal didn’t record a single shot on target.
They made three substitutions, all of whom were like for like replacements.
Nothing was done to change the way Arsenal played, only the players themselves were changed, this despite playing against a team that had quite clearly had figured out a way to stop Arsenal’s attacking play dead in its tracks.
This is what Arsenal does when it’s in trouble; the same thing over and over again.
Instead of looking at what is being done wrong and trying to change the procedure, Wenger changes the player instead.
Instead of giving fans an insight into the decision making process at the club, the board leaks news of a ‘war chest’ or a huge contract offer to someone at the club.
Just like Alexis’ through ball to Monreal, the work Arsene Wenger and the board are trying to do may seem plausible in theory, but unless done perfectly it is merely playing into the hands of their opponents.
The longer it goes on, the more obvious it will become.