One desperate Arsenal strategy to revitalize failing squad

Back to back defeats against Crystal Palace and Brighton saw the Arsenal squad start to wobble. Before the Southampton game, there was a flash of hope. Youngsters were everywhere across the pitch. Nuno Tavares was back in the squad, showing that Arteta had learned from his mistake. Eddie Nketiah, impressing in brief cameos off the bench, came in to replace the goal-shy Lacazette. This optimism continued into the game.

Nketiah looked bright, running the channels and harassing the back line. Arsenal’s own defense looked somewhat more cohesive. Tavares wasn’t caught out and Gabriel looked to be confident and incisive on the ball. As the first half ticked by, the optimism started to peter out. A few sparse chances presented themselves but Southampton stood resilient, and then, at the stroke of half-time with some fans already heading to the concourse, came the blow.

It would turn out that this blow would be all that Southampton needed, winning the game 1-0. A third loss in as many games. However, more damaging than the defeat was the clear lack of ideas as despite the bright young players on the pitch, the crosses started getting lumped around or even before 60 minutes had passed.

The players on the pitch looked completely devoid of ideas. Long gone are the quick moves, intelligent interchange and penetrating passes. Instead, the play against Southampton was unimaginative and pedestrian: slide the ball around the back, shunt it out wide and the lump in a cross. Rinse and repeat.

Ahead of facing Chelsea in the Premier League after three straight defeats, there is one desperate Arsenal strategy to revitalize failing squad

The ceiling of this team has yet to be seen. The floor, however, was seen on the south coast and even more so in the two prior matches. Arsenal have stumbled through the past three games with slow build-up and lack of incisiveness. The team has been in this spot before.

Winter of 2020 saw Arteta’s men struggling to get points on the board. They were heading into a game against high-flyers Chelsea without a win in their last seven. Yet surprisingly, it was the red half of London that showed up ready to fight, with Arsenal winning 3-1. Talk immediately before the game circled around the manager’s team selection: Lacazette led the line, with Martinelli, Smith Rowe and Saka behind him.

Smith Rowe had impressed in Europa League but starting him in a crucial match against cross-city rivals was a bold decision indeed, while the selection of Martinelli was surprising as well. Turning to these bright, energetic youngsters, however, is arguably what led to Arteta keeping his job in the midst of a dismal run of form.

The three supporting stars brought pressing, energy and an enthusiasm that had gradually slipped away in the games before. A little more than a year later, Arteta finds himself in a similar position. Three consecutive losses with few positives to learn from, harsh run-in with teams in top form, and a lack of attacking ideas.

One idea, however, remains available to Arteta: give the kids a chance.

The likes of Omari Hutchinson and Mika Biereth have been training with the first team throughout the season. While they haven’t been able to make the step up to the Premier League yet, their talent is undeniable. Perhaps what Arteta needs is to throw these youngsters in at the deep end.

This is not absolutely to say they should start against Chelsea on Wednesday, but when looking at the bench after seeing the woeful attacking performances, there is room for these academy players to come on and offer the opposition a different threat, one they won’t have prepared for.

What unpredictability and spark these hungry young talents can provide is often ignored. In a game as driven by results as football is, managers refuse to take the risk to try something different. The experienced players have failed to impress. Why not try the youngsters?