Arsenal get their Europa League campaign under way against Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday - follow on Sky Sports' digital platforms
Thursday 19 September 2019 17:16, UK
There was a rare sense of optimism around the Emirates Stadium at the start of the season, with the media and social media alike determining that Arsenal had 'won' the transfer window following a handful of impressive acquisitions, combined with a plethora of outgoings.
A mere five games in and the goodwill from the Gunners' faithful has displayed signs of subsiding - after opening the season with two wins by a single goal at Newcastle and then at home to Burnley, they have taken two points from their subsequent three league games; a poor return that some would say is still fortuitous.
Sunday's 2-2 draw at Vicarage Road could be seen as a positive result taken out of context - with numerous first-team players sidelined, combined with Watford being buoyed by the re-appointment of Quique Sanchez Flores. However, the manner in which they let a two-goal lead slip against the side propping up the division is a natural cause for concern.
The 31 attempts by Watford was a club-record in the Premier League - meanwhile Arsenal have been out-shot by their opponents in four of their five league games this season.
Arsenal's so-called soft centre is nothing new - it became a regular talking point during Arsene Wenger's later years and, despite a defensive improvement being a key remit for his successor, the statistics do little to suggest Arsenal's backbone has been strengthened in the resulting three transfer windows.
Since the start of 2018-19, the only ever-present Premier League sides to have faced more shots than Arsenal are Burnley and West Ham. They have started this season not just conceding a magnitude of chances, but good ones...
Towards to end of Wenger's tenure, Arsenal's famed style under his leadership had diminished. To many supporters, the trophy-less eight seasons between 2006-13 were off-set to some degree by the quality of football on display, combined with the patience and understanding the Frenchman had earned with the financial restraints following the 2006 move to the Emirates Stadium. As Arsenal's grip on their seemingly imperious position in the top four dwindled, so did their identity.
Wenger's departure after 22 years delivered an initial patience that would inevitably be required for his replacement. While the end to Wenger's reign was perceived to be somewhat disastrous, Unai Emery's start has been statistically worse.
The defence has often been the focal point when Arsenal have come under scrutiny in recent times, but it's worth noting just how reliant they have been on their main two strikers under Emery - especially Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has scored five of Arsenal's eight goals this season, and 12 of their last 18 goals either side of the summer break.
The counter argument for Emery is that he is arguably missing three of his first-choice back four in Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding and summer signing Kieran Tierney - Alexandre Lacazette's injury combined with others still working their way back to full fitness after the summer means they have been reliant on their youngsters to fill those gaps.
The remarkable squad turnover over the last four transfer windows is also worth considering - the 29 senior players who have left the club since January 2018 amassed over 3,000 appearances for Arsenal (including players currently out on loan).
Arsenal were always going to give Wenger's predecessor time, both in the boardroom and on the terraces. But with more and more questions being raised as to their progression under Emery, answers will be expected sooner rather than later.
