Arsenal: 4 positives from Man City horror show

Even beginning to consider that there is something positive to draw from what Arsenal supporters had to witness on Saturday can come across as flogging a dead horse. Rightly so. This is the doom and gloom Amazon hedged their bets on.

A resounding 6-0 victory over West Brom’s Under-23 side in the Carabao Cup second round followed by a 5-0 humbling in the Premier League is precisely the level of drama that will make the All or Nothing series an Oscar contender.

Watching on as Mikel Arteta’s side were embarrassed with each wave of City attack, the state of play after full-time ensured Arsenal recorded the joint-worst start to a Premier League season in the history of the competition.

Calls for the manager to be sacked, not for losing to the champions, but the details of how it unfolded, have never been more vociferous. The arguments against that taking place softening amid the increasing volume of discontent.

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4 positives to draw from Arsenal losing 5-0 to Manchester City in the Premier League as Mikel Arteta continues to have calls to be sacked

With the transfer window slamming shut on August 31, there are symbolic calls for a late trolley dash similar to the one that took place the days following the 8-2 obliteration at Old Trafford – coincidentally ten years to the day on from the 5-0 loss.

Will that solve anything? Arteta, funnily enough, was part of that late splurge as he joined from Everton in the closing stages of that summer and he may wish for a player such as himself to come in and help out in midfield.

A midfield, worth noting, that he chose to allow Granit Xhaka to man all on his own.

Spirits are low, the mood is glum. Watching the game back and seeing each mistake unfold and every tactical command either misunderstood or contributing towards the downfall, where exactly there is positivity to draw grows increasingly difficult. But we must try. We must.

1. Emile Smith Rowe Continues to Take Responsibility

On the opening day defeat to Brentford there was a case to be made for Emile Smith Rowe being the best player on the pitch, let alone Arsenal’s key contributor on the night.

Taking the No. 10 shirt before the season began, the expectation that comes with assuming that jersey being bestowed on someone of his young age and relative top-flight inexperience felt like a huge responsibility.

Arsenal haven’t won a game, Smith Rowe hasn’t scored a goal and nor has he laid off an assist. Yet he still shines brightest of all.

This is a young man showing maturity. He did it in west London when those around him faltered, he tried his hardest against Chelsea, and at the Etihad he once more shouldered the burden of creation, effort and drive.

Above all, he was courageous. And this is one of the few hooks on the Arsenal stand that you can hang your hat on.

For players of his age it’s common, and entirely understandable, to fall back into the rhythm of their teammates. It’s not hiding, it’s absorbing the collective catastrophe and being roped in.

Smith Rowe continues to stand tall.