Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal’s Lack Of Depth Poses Continual Issue With Money Surplus

By Jabari LeGendre

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We are only six games into the Premier League season and Arsenal’s available roster is looking thread-bare. With significant injuries to Danny Welbeck, Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosisky and a less serious knock to Francis Coquelin, Arsenal already find themselves in a bit of hot water.

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At the start of the season I published an article judging the manager’s lack of activity in the summer transfer window, and concluded that only time would tell if cohesion and familiarity outweighed the need for reinforcements. Well it seems that we already have an answer to whether or not our silence in the market was well founded. It certainly was not.

Year after year a chorus of Arsenal supporters highlight the need to strengthen the team in two specific areas, striker and holding midfielder. Yet again the manager left these positions unattended and the team is suffering for this oversight.

I am not saying that the quality that we have in these positions are terribly sub par, I am simply stating that we needed more bodies in those positions. Danny Welbeck has not played for Arsenal since last season and Olivier Giroud got himself unceremoniously ejected from the team’s clash with Dinamo Zagreb. This leaves Theo Walcott as the Gunners primary center forward in the team’s next Champions league match and for the foreseeable future in the EPL. Unfortunately the pacey Englishman has never spent an entire season as a lone striker, which makes him a rather limited option.

Francis Coquelin picked up a knee injury in the London Derby against Chelsea. He may or may not be ready to battle North London rivals Tottenham in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday. This means either Mikel Arteta or Mathieu Flamini will have to step up to that position. Neither one of these players is a reassuring option and Arteta looked well off the pace against Dinamo Zagreb. Flamini has not looked nearly as capable as he once did in an Arsenal shir. The prospect of either player taking the young Frenchman’s place is unnerving.

If Francis can not go in the next match, or worse yet becomes sidelined for a lengthy period, Arsenal will lose its fiercest midfielder and arguably its best player. The paucity of options up front and at the base of midfield call into question why on Earth Arsene Wenger did not seek suitable understudies for these positions. Even competent youngsters would be better than fielding two defensive midfielders well past their prime and an out of position winger who lacks the ability to hold up the ball.

Wenger loves to show faith in his players, that is one of his most admirable qualities. But the gaffer’s loyalty has left Arsenal without many options. Say what you like about the price tag that Anthony Martial garnered, but one thing is not debatable, the young Frenchman has hit the ground running for Manchester United. Wenger’s disapproval of the modern transfer market is not going to change the fact that money must be spent in order to gain results. Injuries will happen, players will be booked and suspensions will follow. When that happens you need reliable options on your bench, which is something Arsenal currently lack.


The most frustrating part of this whole ordeal is that Arsenal are one of the richest clubs in all of Europe. According to Bleacher Report Arsenal are one of the most financially stable clubs in English football, and Rob Harris of the Associated Press highlights the North London club’s gains over the last year. Arsenal supporters pay the highest prices in the EPL and the Emirates Stadium is paid off. That means it is downright inexcusable for a team of Arsenal’s stature to be in this much trouble so early on in the season.

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Santi Carzola and Gabriel Paulista also received their marching papers against Chelsea, which further excacerbates the current problem. Aaron Ramsey will most likely move back into the base of midfield, alongside Arteta if Coquelin is out. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlin will most likely join in on the right wing and those are not bad options for the Gunners.

However with Wilshere, Rosicky and  Welbeck all out that leaves a serious lack of creativity and experience on the bench. Serge Gnabry, Issac Hayden and Chuba Akpom have all been loaned out which leaves Joel Campbell, Alex Iwobi and Jeff Reine-Adelaide as the primary offensive options on the bench. Despite their potential these players don’t strike you as the saviors Arsenal may need.

Losing a third game on the bounce, especially to despised Tottenham would be worse than unacceptable, it would be a travesty. If Arsene Wenger had sprung the cash to bring in two or three new players, then the current suspensions and injuries would not cause such a critical blow. However since the Gunners failed to bring in a single outfield player in the summer they will now be fighting for their lives in this young season.

Next: VOTE: Which Arsenal youngster are you most excited about?

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