Arsenal: Nothing says "attacker(s) needed" like Welbeck and Iwobi

Arsenal’s defense was superb at Stamford Bridge, but the attack was abysmal. New options are needed, and Danny Welbeck and Alex Iwobi have proven that tenfold.

When a team lacks consistency, you have to look around at what players similarly lack consistency. Arsenal lacks consistency among the worst of them. The only thing they are consistent in is not being consistent. Fans are constantly befuddled as to what this team actually is.

After five matches surrendering just a goal, the Gunners went on a stretch of five matches surrendering 12 goals. In that second, unflattering streak, however, they also scored pretty freely, knocking home 11.

The attack was clicking, the defense was not.

And then the semi-final first leg at Stamford Bridge happened, where the attack was silent as a dead rock and the defense was suddenly stalwart again.

On the surface, it makes no sense. But when you dig deeper, you can find some kernels of truth. This Arsenal defense, while terrible lately, has some tremendous talent and they have shown that talent more times than not. It was just all going wrong at the wrong times.

The attack, however, has been far less reliable. Without Alexis Sanchez or Mesut Ozil, the attack has been stale with fleeting flashes of quality.

On Wednesday against Chelsea, Arsene Wenger opted to bench Alexis in favor of Alex Iwobi and Danny Welbeck. The result was a complete horror show, assuming your biggest fear is loneliness and ineptitude.

Welbeck was completely irrelevant. I can’t think of one constructive thing he did other than defend well. That’s been the case since he returned from injury.

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And Iwobi? Well, I’ve said my piece about him. He wets himself when he gets near the opposing goal in utterly shocking fashion. I used to admire Joel Campbell’s ability to keep defenses on their toes with his unpredictability. Iwobi is unpredictable in the opposite direction – he’s unpredictable in how he will flub his attempt – a skirted pass to a defender? A loopy goal into the keepers loving arms or a toe poke to no one at all?

I get that these two have qualities that we have seen. Hell, last time they faced Chelsea together at Stamford Bridge, they were pretty damn good. But it’s the inconsistency that I am highlighting here. The fact that this type of attack is an option is all the sign that’s needed. Fresh options are needed. The problem is that they are needed along with the likes of Alexis and Ozil. Which makes me a bit antsy about how this attack will move forward.

There are names out there. Plenty of names. It’s gotten so desperate that any name has me excited and saying “well, he’s not Welbeck, Iwobi or Theo Walcott, so I like him.”

Next: 5 Things Learned Against Chelsea

That’s a problem. And, sorry, but it’s not just my unrealistic pursuit of perfection. I am eternally optimistic and would love to see any and all Gunners succeed and want to believe they can. But even an optimist has to get real sometimes. Our attacking options around the big two are inconsistent, just like most of the rest of the team, which is why the team itself is so inconsistent.

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Arsenal: Nothing says “attacker(s) needed” like Welbeck and Iwobi

By Josh Sippie | Jan 11, 2018

Arsenal’s defense was superb at Stamford Bridge, but the attack was abysmal. New options are needed, and Danny Welbeck and Alex Iwobi have proven that tenfold.

More from Pain in the Arsenal