Arsenal: 4 talking points from 1-0 Tottenham defeat

As far as preparations go, losing to Chelsea and then Tottenham in back-to-back fixtures ahead of the Premier League curtain-raiser on Friday is near enough as bad as it can get. Throw in the injury to Thomas Partey and the situation becomes increasingly dire.

Mikel Arteta opted to field a side that looks certain to be starting against Brentford in a few short days. Albert Sambi Lokonga partnered Granit Xhaka in midfield and there was a first start for Ben White in the heart of defene, with perhaps the only alteration ahead of the trip to west London being the inclusion of Calum Chambers in Hector Bellerin’s stead.

Aside from those playing, there were absences for Rob Holding, Joe Willock and Willian from the matchday squad.

The manager insisted Holding wasn’t fit to feature but offered the strongest indication yet that Willock’s time at Arsenal is drawing to an end. Stating that he will ‘explain the reasons when we can’ was about as clear as he could be about a transfer nearing being finalised without outright saying it.

Arsenal: 4 talking points from 1-0 Tottenham defeat as Mikel Arteta oversees pre-season loss ahead of Premier League opener against Brentford

As for Willian, he simply didn’t make the squad. There is nothing brewing at the minute to suggest that he will also be leaving this window.

In regards to the match itself, having settled after a nervy opening ten minutes when the high press looked uncertain, Arsenal gained control of proceedings until the half-time whistle. Dele Alli spurned the best chance for the hosts while Alexandre Lacazette struck the post with an effort from distance.

Arteta cited the substitutions for an unorganised second period, but the issues of control where there before any changes were made.

The average second half showing was compounded with ten minutes left to play when some poor defending from Mohamed Elneny and particularly Pablo Mari ended up with Heung-min Son firing past Bernd Leno from close range.

Another defeat and more concern. Here are the talking points.

1. Same Old Arsenal

Having territory and possession of the ball in the final third is good. It’s very good. That’s the area the ball needs to be before you can score goals, therefore seeing it in that zone is supposed to be the start of what is believed to be chance creation.

When no such opportunities are forthcoming, nobody should be surprised. After all, looking at the Arsenal forward line and seeing the exact same personnel who lacked the creative bite last season do so again this time around is precisely what you’d expect.

Turning domination into goals, or at least presentable situations to score, was what hindered Arsenal last season. The story was the same most weeks, with domination in advanced areas ruined by a lack of creativity and foolish errors in their own third.

Fast forward to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and it was rinse and repeat.

With no signs of these glaring issues being rectified on the training pitch or in the transfer market, the caveat of it ‘being pre-season’ becomes null and void. These are the same players going through the same patterns producing the same results.

Worry can only be bottled up for so long.