Arsenal: 4 talking points from 2-2 Crystal Palace draw

4. What Did Arsenal and Arteta Do in The International Break?

Many thought that having no European football and the international breaks would be a positive thing for the Gunners. It allows additional time to work on elements on the training pitch and to be fully prepared for the team they are facing. Less fatigue, etc.

That is what makes this performance against Palace so worrying. Same with Brighton. Arteta had two weeks to work out a gameplan and strategy to secure the three points and to get his players up for a critical encounter. This was a huge opening for the team after previous results. Instead, it looked as if no attention had been paid to how Palace set up and play.

The Arsenal players look under prepared for what Vieira’s men were set up to do. That falls squarely on the shoulders of Arteta and you have to seriously question what goes on at the training ground and how he prepares his team for matches.

Overall, despite the last-gasp equalizer, it was a horrible performance from Arsenal on home soil. Palace was fully deserving for what looked like a great three points, and no Arsenal fan can claim otherwise.

Arteta’s future was already shaky. After this performance some serious questions have to be asked, if they haven’t been already. He needs to be getting this right with a near full complement of players. He isn’t.

Villa is up next in the Premier League and if this type of performance is repeated then Arsenal will have one point from two games that they were expected to get six from. It shapes as a big week for Arteta and his Arsenal side. Time is running out.