Newcastle 2-0 Arsenal: 3 talking points as Gunners blow top four

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MAY 16: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts as Arsenal trail 1-0 during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Arsenal at St. James Park on May 16, 2022 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images) /

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Arsenal’s Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard (L) reacts. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images) /

Quiet January Bites Arsenal

Much was made of Arsenal’s January transfer business. In the mix for a top four finish, the Gunners decided to do away with several players and trim the wage budget. While that was a necessity, they did so without bringing in reinforcements.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Calum Chambers, Sead Kolasinac, Pablo Mari and Ainsley Maitland-Niles all left in some capacity.

This has come back to bite the club on the behind. With injuries to Kieran Tierney and Thomas Partey, as well as not signing another striker, in Arsenal’s time of need, they were left with Mohamed Elneny, Alexandre Lacazette, Eddie Nketiah, and Rob Holding to play in games with immense importance.

That is not a knock on those players mentioned above, but if Arsenal gets into the top four and plays Champions League football, they should be on the bench rather than starting. There is a reason they were mere squad players for such a considerable length of time.

However, selecting them and not calling greater depth was forced on Mikel Arteta because of the lack of incomings during January.

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