Arsenal vs West Ham: 5 key players as desperation looms

Arsenal ran out of leeway a long time ago. They are now dangerously close to the relegation zone. Here are five guys needed to right the ship against West Ham.

Arsenal haven’t had anywhere to hide for months. The festering wound of this club is getting worse, and no one seems to have any clue how to fix it. It may require a full on gutting of the side, but whatever the case, it can all be fixed with a few key guys stepping up and lifting the club around them.

That’s a big ask for a side that is wholly failing in all aspects of the game, but it’s an ask that needs to be answered, lest things get much worse before they get better. And even that is no guarantee any more.

Freddie Ljungberg has to introduce some changes or his reign is going to be one of the shortest in Arsenal history. But even beyond the personnel, there are so many people he will still call on who have been disappointing who need to step up and be key players to turning this rut around before we are a part of a real crisis.

There’s no doubt we need a new manager, and fast, but if that isn’t going to happen immediately, then the best we can hope for is a change in mindset from some of these guys. So let’s get right to it. Our five key players against West Ham, starting with No. 5.

5. Kieran Tierney

Crazy as it sounds, we’ve been spoiled by Sead Kolasinac lately. He’s been one of our few sources of inspiration, particularly getting forward, and this is likely going to be Tierney’s chance to answer. Meaning he’ll have to, since we’ve had so few sources of inspiration lately that if he doesn’t, we’re losing one of your key players.

That said, Tierney is a game changer all on his own. We’ve seen that. We know that. And there’s always that chance that he can even upgrade on what Kolasinac was providing at the position. That is what we bought him for, after all.

On to No. 4.