Arsenal: Sokratis warning for Gunners as much as rivals

Sokratis has stated that Arsenal are playing at only 70 or 80%. The warning sent out to their rivals, though, is as pertinent for the Gunners as it is for anyone else.

Oddly enough, Arsenal have not played well in any of the eight league wins they have amassed this season. The disparity between the performance and the result has been stark.

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But despite lacking processes, the Gunners have continued to grind out results, now unbeaten in their last 17 matches in all competitions, including Sunday afternoon’s critical 2-1 win over Bournemouth in which they were again largely unconvincing.

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Forecasting for the future, then, it seems as though Arsenal have much more to give. Their rivals should be worried, right? That is the implication of Sokratis‘ recent comments, made after Sunday’s victory. Sokratis stated that he believes he and his teammates still have some room to grow after a promising but still lacking start to life under Unai Emery:

"“We are around 70 to 80 per cent. We need to improve sometimes to not lose the ball or when we have the ball to finish the action and score. That is the difference. We need to improve and we know this. We have confidence but it is not easy, we know. Next week is very important. It is good this week that we did not lose points because we go next week full of confidence and we will see. Our focus is on [being one of] the best four teams.”"

Perhaps this should not be seen as a warning by those Premier League rivals. But it should certainly be seen as a warning for Sokratis’ teammates. Because Arsenal cannot be expected to continue their recent run of results if they continue to perform as they have been, as Sokratis rightly highlights.

The ‘need to improve’ is great. Next weekend is the north London derby. If both teams play how they did last weekend, it will not be a close contest. That added 20-30% that Sokratis refers to is crucial for Unai Emery’s outfit to find sustained and not somewhat fluked success over the course of the season and beyond.

In the 1-1 draw to Liverpool, the north London side did find that little bit extra. They zipped the ball quicker in possession, they pressed with a higher intensity and energy, they controlled the match with an excellent midfield showing. But they have not replicated that performance prior to or since. It is a brief glimpse of what they are capable of but has not consistently been repeated.

The warning that Sokratis provides should twig with himself and his teammates more than any rival. It is down to them to find that extra 20-30%. Because if they don’t, this season might not end how it has started.