Same Old Arsenal: Arsene Wenger Must Address His Team’s Mental Weakness

For 45 minutes, Arsenal seemed to be on the brink of a season-defining moment. 1-0 up against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, Arsene Wenger’s side were more than worthy of their lead. This was going to be looked back on as the moment Arsenal announced themselves as genuine title contenders, the challengers to Chelsea’s supremacy. As it turned out, this moment will be looked back on for altogether different reasons.

Gooners used to chant “one-nil to the Arsenal” as an ominous battle cry. From that position, it became the convention of cliche, they would never lose from. Now one-nil to the Arsenal is a sign of encouragement rather than foreboding doom to the opposition. From that position, Wenger’s side have contrived to lose twice in a week. 

The loss to Everton at Goodison Park was damaging enough, with the manner of their collapse raising questions over their mindset and strength of character.

Sunday’s defeat to Manchester City in nearly identical circumstances, meekly surrendering a 1-0 lead with a Jekyll and Hyde performance, could have a critical impact on Arsenal’s entire season. It underlined that there is something fundamentally amiss about Wenger’s team.

Criticism of the Gunners over the past decade has focussed on personnel, their movements in the transfer market and ability—or lack thereof—to keep hold of their best players. That latter point has become a pertinent discussion once more, with Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez reportedly demanding new contracts at the Emirates Stadium, as per Sky Sports. Whether they stay or not will indicate if Arsenal have made any progress in clinging to their best players.

But while Wenger could have done more in the summer transfer window to bolster his team, Arsenal’s current struggles have nothing to do with the quality of their players. Instead, it is the mentality of their players that needs examining. Not the club’s transfer strategy.

That is an easier debate to be had, that Arsenal haven’t signed good enough players to sustain a title challenge. However, such …

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