Arsenal aren’t unlucky, they just aren’t good enough

The issue for the Gunners is not a lack of fortune, but a deficiency in ideas, offensive direction and intention

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta (Pool via REUTERS)

In the aftermath of yet another league defeat, Arsenal’s eighth of the season, Mikel Arteta’s assessment of his team’s display at Everton was as concerning as their diabolical form.

“It's very similar to the last few weeks: we are trying, dominating the game, but in the small moments we are losing it,” he offered. "We had chances but the last shot, the last pass is not going our way.”

Arsenal controlled possession at Goodison Park, but that was exactly what Everton had planned.

Carlo Ancelotti’s charges were happy to allow them the ball, because they are so passive, slow and purposeless with it.

They edged the shot count, but managed only two on target and never caused the hosts any discomfort with Jordan Pickford practically having the night off in Everton’s goal.

Arsenal have not been dominating matches as per Arteta’s assertion, they have simply been granted possession as an opposition tactic.

In the eight top-flight clashes in which they’ve had more of the ball, six have ended in defeat and had West Ham been more clinical, that figure would read seven.

The anomaly was a tense win against struggling Sheffield United.

Arsenal are incredibly easy to defend against and as Jamie Carragher had noted during commentary of the fixture on the weekend: "They move the ball very slowly from back to front and very rarely expose defenders one-on-one.”

Arsenal do not commit markers, with their dribble count only higher than Sheffield United and Burnley in the league this year.

They rank in the bottom half of the division for expected goals and shots on target in 2020.

Arsenal haven't scored from open play in any of their last five away games in the league, with their two goals on the road coming from the penalty spot.

“I think the luck is not on our side,” Arteta concluded on Saturday, which couldn’t be more detached from the reality.

The issue is not a lack of fortune, but a deficiency in ideas, offensive direction and intention.

Arsenal have been bad. Fifteenth in the table bad. They have regressed in every aspect after the hugely positive opening months of Arteta’s reign.

The club were regarded as the toughest transformation job of the top six in recent history and the 38-year-old is discovering the scale of the truth of that now.

"For them to get back to where they want to be, regular Champions League positions, challenging for honours, certainly the top honours, they are going to have to go through a lot of pain," Carragher accurately summed up.

"They will do. There have been a lot of poor signings going back a long time. Arsenal's recruitment in the last few years has been shocking. Absolutely shocking. 

"Arteta needs three or four transfer windows. This group of players is nowhere near good enough."