Arsenal are the products of their downfall

Arsenal yet again squandered a lead. But is this becoming too much of a trend?  Are the Gunners the products of their own demise?

Arsenal were 3-2 up against Liverpool; they couldn’t hold on to the game. That ended up costing them two points, which could be precious by the time the end of the season rolls around. Is this becoming a trend?

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After the second goal, I honestly thought that was it for the home side. But Alexis Sanchez had other ideas. In the 53rd minute of this enthralling match, he scored a wonderful header with Joe Gomez sleeping at the far post, allowing the Chilean to steal in ahead of him.

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In quick succession, Granit Xhaka and Mesut Ozil both scored wonderful goals, but the dealt had already been dealt thanks to the rampant counter-attacks of the Merseysiders. In possession, Arsenal looked short of ideas, unable to penetrate Liverpool’s shaky defense.

They gave the ball away too many times in the middle of the park and didn’t have the pace or the brains to figure out how to stop the ‘fab four’. Xhaka, for all his brilliance, gifted possession away far too cheaply, and had Manchester City, not Liverpool been the opponents, Arsenal could have found themselves in a far deeper hole at half-time.

If they keep giving the ball away so easily, they should expect to concede at the other end. Xhaka always plays so safe and conservative, not wanting to lose the ball. But, in doing so, the team loses their penetrative edge, often having to restart attacks from deep positions time and time again.

If goals continue to be conceded where possession has been lost so easily, then Arsene Wenger may have to consider looking for a replacement.  Unfortunately, given the makeup of the players already in the squad, that replacement may have to come in the transfer window.

Arsenal have too many conservative or technically inept players on the bench to replace Xhaka, and playing Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey together seems a little foolish because of their attacking tendencies, often relinquishing the defensive stability that a midfield needs to provide.

This season, like many years in the past, Wenger and his players have been the product of their own downfall. Specifically, their shortcomings in midfield, particularly in their inability to aptly protect and shield the defence, in or out of possession, have cost them dear. It was proven against Liverpool; it will be proven in the future. Changes need to be made, starting against Crystal Palace on Thursday.