Arsenal: Struggles are actually helping the team in a way

It’s never fun when Arsenal struggle, but there is one positive that we can glean from it, even if it is perhaps and unnecessarily-acquired positive.

It’s a bit murky in the Arsenal waters these days, as it always tends to get around this time. And this is all despite what turned out to be a fantastic January transfer window that defied all expectations.

Yet it still leaves the Gunners without much chance of finding the top four and with a suddenly more difficult chance of winning the Europa League, given Alexandre Lacazette’s phantom knee surgery.

In the process of the failing and inconsistency, though, we are able to pull one positive that probably shouldn’t be required, but it’s here anyway.

We are getting the most specific feedback of what this team needs of any team in history. Everyone has been saying that the Gunners need defensive help in the form of defenders and centerbacks and we need a winger. But that is pretty general.

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We have specifics now. Down to what traits each of these three players need to have. Generalities have been quashed.

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For a winger, we need width. Thomas Lemar and Julian Draxler are not answers. They are forced-wide attacking midfielders. Yannick Carrasco, Leon Bailey are into the fray as potential answers though.

In midfield, we need ball-winning and athleticism with a creative flair to satisfy the boss. Bruisers and wreckers should be out. Max Meyer and his type are in.

In defense, we need a conservative center back who does not over-pursue, doesn’t dive into tackles and simply absorbs pressure. Kostas Manolas and Jonathan Tah, unless capable of being re-purposed, would therefore not be at the top of the list.

I don’t think we would have learned this without the struggles. Before this season, we were all in on guys like Lemar and Draxler, we were all about having a hulking Steven N’Zonzi and an aggressive Manolas. Hell, I was too.

But it’s not just a position that needs filling, it’s a formula that needs completion, and this formula has been toiled with for years for the sole purpose of showing the club exactly and without a shadow of a doubt what is needed because, honestly, it shows the exact thins that we do not have.

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Which, promisingly, is not that much. We always talk about how this club is two or three players away from being a title contender, but the specificity behind those players differs based on who you ask. There is still some wiggle room with these three formulaic player models, but snag them and I have no doubts that we will be title contenders.

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