Arsenal drew 0-0 away to Burnley to move up from 12th to 10th in the league. It was the clubs 13th draw this season. The Premier League record from 38 games is 17 and the Gunners are well on course to equal or even beat this.
It was another disappointing result for Arsenal who have struggled to win games. Just 2 now from their last 17. Of course it depends on how you view results but new manager Mikel Arteta has oversaw just 1 league win from 7 games. Of course he has only lost one also, which came against Chelsea in a game which could have easily have finished as another draw.
Whilst draws have been the difference between fighting relegation, draws do not challenge for European positions either and this has clearly been Arsenal’s worst season in 35 years. Had those draws been losses Arsenal would currently be in 19th place with 19 points. And, had they been converted to wins they would be in 4th place with 43 points. Truth is though this Arsenal side have been average to poor as we have seen them take the lead in games only to be pegged back.
Against Burnley they couldn’t manage a goal which was unfortunate for the club as they welcomed back prolific striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The player had missed the last 3 games through suspension after he was sent off earlier in the month.
Whilst Arsenal did show promise against Burnley they only managed 2 shots on target, as did the home side. But this is clearly not the Arsenal of old and one wonders what Arteta will do with much of this squad in the summer? Is it time to sell the bulk of the team? Would that simply be panicking? Or is it true that most of the starting eleven, whilst good players simply can’t cut it at Arsenal who should be a team aiming for at least the top 6. The Gunners have been going back for a few years now and this season looks like the end result.
They will enjoy a two week break now and the luck of the draw means that their next 3 Premier League matches will be at home. They will be against Newcastle, Everton and West Ham. Also the club won’t play a so called big name club again until the end of April when they take on Tottenham in the London derby.
Fans have been left very frustrated and even angry at the clubs results. Arteta needs time and respect but his tenure has hardly started well. Too many draws feel like they are glossing over the bigger picture. The only thing to give the fans hope will be a good end to the season and trying to finish in a respectable place, namely the top 6 has to be Arteta’s objective, they are currently 5 points from that target.
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