Arsenal now have a serious transfer move to make

Left to wallow in the remnants of a demoralising defeat to Brighton, there is little to be reassured about in the case of Arsenal.

Dreadful performances across the team were set on their way by a weak tactical plan from Mikel Arteta, who opted to revisit old flames with the introduction of Granit Xhaka at left-back. It didn’t work last season, and nothing has changed.

Up front there was another painfully ineffective performance from Alexandre Lacazette whose vanishing act grows more impressive by the week. A ghost all afternoon, his impact on proceedings dances between non-existent and damaging.

What Arsenal need to do in the summer is no secret. The reliance on Thomas Partey ensures that midfield needs to be bolstered with serious quality, while in attack the acquisition of two new strikers will fill fans with hope of a significant improvement in team performance.

Arsenal now have a serious transfer move to make with a new left-back needed given Nuno Tavares’ career and Kieran Tierney’s injuries

Another right-back is essential too, but what has been learned over the past few weeks is that there is another transfer move for Arsenal to make. Its importance is undisputed.

It would appear that Nuno Tavares’ short career in north London has drawn to a close. Signed to be a backup, Arteta’s total lack of confidence in him was laid bare against the Seagulls when he not only wasn’t selected to start, but also wasn’t called upon during the match despite blatant systematic issues in the side without a recognised left-back on the pitch.

If he couldn’t get minutes at home to a side with the solitary goal and no wins from their past seven Premier League matches, it’s hard to see where he goes from here. His confidence will be shot and the mounting pressure on the team is sure to only work against him.

This is also now the second season in a row where Kieran Tierney has been unavailable due to injury. Were it not for the halt in action during his first season when the pandemic hit he would have missed the end of that campaign too.

His injury issues are a serious concern. He has a history of this, dating back to his time at Celtic, and it is going to force Arsenal to dip back into the market. While Nuno was signed for his potential, the next acquisition has be ready-made. With (hopefully) European football next season Arsenal can not find themselves in another situation where their season is at risk of derailing at the final hurdle on account of one injury. It proved detrimental last season and is seemingly heading in the same direction.

The irony is, of course, that being in the Champions League makes this task easier.