Arsenal have a speed problem and they seriously need to do something about it

Arsenal chose to part ways with their quickest player over the summer, and this may ultimately come back to haunt them.

The Gunners said goodbye to Gabriel Martinelli after seven years with the Brazilian, selling him to the Saudi Pro League for a record fee. While in isolation, this was an exceptional sale, generating a significant sum for a player who has a year left on his contract, they haven't adequately replaced the pace Martinelli brought to the table, leaving Mikel Arteta's squad with a worrying lack of speed.

After five league games, this already seems like an issue for the North Londoners, and a concerning statistic has emerged which exposes the problem even more.

Arsenal's speed issue

According to FotMob's Premier League data, just two Arsenal players rank among the league's top 50 for top speed this season.

Surprisingly, Cristhian Mosquera makes the cut, coming in as the division's 15th quickest player so far this campaign. The Spaniard has registered a top speed of 34.8km/h, a pace Erling Haaland hasn't even reached yet this season.

Worryingly, you then have to go down to 47th to find the next quickest Arsenal player - Kai Havertz, who ran at 34.1km/h at some point this term. The German has always been deceptively quick, although this metric indicates that he's still not among the elite speedsters within the Premier League.

This will concern Arteta. Boasting frightening pace is what primarily terrifies the opposition, and so far the Gunners look like they don't have this skillset in their armoury. While you'd expect some more players in Arteta's squad to enter this top 50 at some point, there are no names on their roster who jump out as being capable of being among the very quickest in the league.

On the eye, Arsenal have looked as though they lack top-end pace in their side. They remain a poor counter-attacking outfit, unable to maximise moments of transition to create good chances.

This was evident against Brighton, when the Gunners spurned a handful of transition opportunities simply because they didn't have players who excel in this specific game state. They don't possess players who can make quick, darting bursts in behind the opposition's backline, with most of Arteta's attackers favouring receiving the ball to feet.

There is no issue in defence, as shown by Mosquera's ranking. Arsenal have the defenders to play an aggressive high line, with all of those in Arteta's backline exceptional athletes and recovery monsters.

However, in the attack, there is a clear lack of dynamism. If not fixed, more teams will play like Brighton did on the weekend. Why would the opposition not commit as many bodies forward in an attempt to breach Arsenal's impenetrable defence, if they know the chances of being hurt on the counter are slim?

Infuriatingly for Gunners supporters, Bradley Barcola, who was heavily linked with a move to the Emirates over the summer, has produced the top speed in the Premier League so far.

Food for thought for Arteta and his recruitment team ahead of the January transfer window.

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