For the second year in a row, Arsenal suffered a home defeat on the opening day of the Premier League season as the Gunners went down 4-3 to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool – a result that may force Arsene Wenger to re-think his transfer strategy ahead of deadline day. After a reasonable start, the North Londoners failed to inspire confidence for long spells and were well beaten by a dangerous looking Liverpool side.
However, Wenger has no excuses – Arsenal’s lack of investment this summer has hindered their chances of winning the title and the Gunners now face an anxious fight for a place in the top four. Arsenal signed Granit Xhaka earlier this summer but their transfer activity since has been sub-par at best. Whilst Liverpool and the two Manchester clubs have spent huge sums of money, Arsenal have been lackadaisical in the market and it WILL cost them.
On current form, it is hard to see Arsenal finishing ahead of United, City, Liverpool or even Chelsea this season; which would give the Gunners a fifth-place finish at best. And even then, the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City and West Ham may give Wenger’s men a run for their money. Arsenal fans won’t exactly be optimistic ahead of the campaign, especially if Wenger fails to act before the transfer window slams shut later this month.
The Arsenal hierarchy need to take quick, effective action if the Gunners are to stand any chance of success this season. Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette, who scored a hat-trick in their opening day victory at Nancy, is still available and Wenger must do everything in his power to sign the Frenchman before deadline day. In today’s day and age, Lacazette is an absolute bargain and he will score goals – that is a certainty. As of August 16th, Arsenal are 4/5 to finish in the top four in bet365's football betting odds and the 25-year-old could be the difference-maker if Arsenal manage to sign him in the next few weeks.
But the Gunners are also plagued by defensive issues and it would be foolish to head into the new campaign with just a few fit defenders. Arsenal have been missing a commanding central defender for quite some time and Germany international Shkodran Mustafi is just one of the players to be linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium. The Valencia man was decent at Euro 2016 and most Arsenal fans would be happy if the 24-year-old joined the club in the coming weeks.
Right now, Arsenal are in big trouble. The Gunners are struggling to inspire confidence on the pitch and their fans are divided off it. Arsene Wenger’s incompetence and inability to act in the transfer market has split supporters once again and it is only a matter of time before the Frenchman has to bear the brunt of their anger. And unless the side improves in their upcoming fixtures, Wenger may be under severe pressure when the transfer window slams shut on August 31st.
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