Amrit Rai

‘Control’ in a footballing context is an almost subjective word that means different things to different people. Whatever it is, Arsenal lacked it against West Brom

In March 2013, Arsene Wenger used a dead rubber Last 16 2nd Leg against Bayern Munich to experiment with a new line-up that would click and ultimately get Arsenal over the line and help them achieve that season’s minimum requirement of retaining Champions League football for the following season.

Rather than persist with something that was proven to not work at Anfield, Arsene Wenger instead tried something different in an attempt to come away from one of this current Arsenal team’s bogey grounds with an unlikely victory.

Arsenal’s fundamentally sound gameplan was undone by a series of individual errors in a 10 minute period as the Gunners slumped to a very different 5-1 defeat at the Allianz Arena than the one they had suffered last season.

A disjointed and unconvincing Arsenal side achieved what they ultimately needed to against Marco Silva’s rejuvenated Hull on Saturday, but there is cause for concern moving forward.

Arsenal were found wanting yet again at Stamford Bridge on Saturday in a defeat that finally ended a title challenge that had been running on fumes.

An Alex Iwobi inspired Arsenal were well on their way to staging a second half comeback and digging their way out of a hole that was completely of their own making, but instead dug their way back into it, while Watford watched on.

When the teamsheet came out on Saturday, some worried Arsenal may have to continue their wait before getting a first win at St Mary’s since Southampton’s return to the top flight in 2012.

Two moments of madness from central midfielders nearly saw Arsenal throw away what had looked like a safe three points in an accomplished performance against Burnley but how will they cope without Granit Xhaka?

Saturday’s performance in the 0-4 win at Swansea was Arsenal’s most aesthetically pleasing display in the league since the win over Chelsea back in September, so what did they do differently?

Football matches turn on moments.

For the fourth straight year, Arsenal’s festive fixtures featured a frustrating display on the South coast.

After being frustrated for 86 minutes, Arsenal finally broke the deadlock against a dogged West Brom side thanks to an Olivier Giroud header.

Arsenal’s second half performance in the defeat for Manchester City was a cause for great concern.

Arsenal came away empty-handed from Goodison Park after playing well for approximately two of the final 60 minutes against Ronald Koeman’s resurgent Everton side, who had only won one of their last 10 matches.

All players take an undetermined amount time to return to their best form after coming back from injury.

The enduring memory of Tuesday night’s triumphant trip to Basel will be the scintillatingly slick move for Lucas Perez’s second goal but it should also be of the Xhaka-Ramsey partnership

He makes things happen but he’s high-risk, high-reward player. Just how has Wenger got the Ox flying?

Arsenal managed to both play fairly well and also make life unnecessarily difficult for themselves against a very competent Bournemouth side. Here’s how Granit Xhaka played his part.

Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka could be a formidable midfield pairing for Arsenal, here’s why