Arsenal are being Arsenal again and this time Arsene Wenger’s team aren’t even waiting until the new year to show their true colors.
Arsenal, Arsenal, Arsenal. It’s one thing having a clear identity. It’s another repeating the same old mistakes over and over and over again. The Gunners have done exactly that for years now, and they did so again against both Manchester City and Everton this week.
Arsene Wenger’s men shown themselves to be among the best team’s in the Premier League in the early goings of this season. All the style and class you come to expect from an Arsenal team that often make the difficult seems so effortless.
But whilst that much is true, the easy often becomes all too difficult for the Gunners by the same token. For ten-plus years now, Wenger has needed, give or take, the same fixes for his Arsenal team in order to return to the top of the Premier League pile.
MUST READ: Guardiola needs to compromise on his beliefs for now
But ten-plus years on – and still waiting – and it already seems yet another year is going to pass by due to the same old deficiencies. Against Everton, Wenger’s team dominated the first half, only to be outrun, outfought and outhustled by a fired-up Everton team in the second half.
More from The Top Flight
- Barcelona identify Newcastle star as Robert Lewandowski replacement
- Arsenal injury news: Mikel Arteta confirms “rapid” attacker suffered injury
- “600 days” Fans make SHOCK Chelsea revelation – They really are poor
- Arsenal transfer news: Mikel Arteta rivals Manchester United for wonderkid
- Manchester United: Erik ten Hag pinpoints 4 players amid Brighton loss
Following that, another loss to Manchester City followed on Sunday. Again, the first half was good for Arsenal. But then a second half that saw City come out with an intensity that was absent in the first half, saw Arsenal be likewise as absent for the second 45 minutes.
For far too long now, Arsenal have been something of a fair-weather team. Scintillating when the sun is out and laced with time and space on the ball. But once the storm clouds gather and the team’s grit, heart, desire and work rate is questioned, the answers are continuously not the answers that champions would offer up.
City are not even known for being an aggressive team, either. Pep Guardiola’s men are stylists just like the Gunners. Yet even City bullied Arsenal out of proceedings, so you can imagine what type of game will be awaiting Arsenal against Tony Pulis’ West Brom now on Boxing Day.
Wenger has never seemed to agree with the notion that his team just aren’t tough enough or have sufficient leaders to win the league. Despite these flaws being obvious to most observers, the Frenchman continues to buy classy, talented players that the squad already has in abundance.
Not only that, but usually younger players who have sell-on value rather than experienced players approaching their 30s. Players who have maybe been there and won it all before. Leaders who can lead the way.
Next: Sunderland on course to survive once again
But although it seems that, potentially, the same old issues are set to cost his team again this season, it remains unlikely that Wenger is finally about to relent any time soon. Not after so many years now.
However, the reality is it’s the same old story with Arsenal once again. And when you employ the same old methods, then you get the same old results. After all this time, did Arsene Wenger really expect anything else?