3 keys for Arsenal returning to winning ways after slump

2. Make use of the Hale End ‘bomb squad’

The established forwards have underwhelmed big time this campaign, so surely our homegrown talents can offer a viable, attacking solution?  

It seems Arteta does not agree. Out of 20 Premier League matches in 2023/24, Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson have combined for just 218 minutes and one start between them, while Eddie Nketiah is predominantly used as an impact sub.

Their peripheral status is only compounded by the terrible form of the first-choice attack, with Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus all performing at a level that hardly renders them untouchable.

Although knee injuries have kept Smith Rowe out on occasion, the Hale End trio are generally fit and simply get overlooked in a way that does not reflect Arteta’s frequent commendations of them - or the decision to extend all three contracts during his tenure.

Whether they are the key to claiming three points again is debatable, but our ongoing dysfunction indicates the academy at least deserves a chance.

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