by Wthis is the wanker with the drumasked the West Ham supporters with 10 minutes remaining at the Emirates Stadium and Arsenal 2-0 down – a question that was followed by huge cheers and the drum in the home end defiantly beating in response.
Like the Arsenal players, the drummer did not give up here, did not tire, did not let his levels drop. But like the Arsenal players he seemed only one tune; a riff that everyone on the field, including opponents, has already heard a little too much over the past two seasons.
Related: Arsenal’s title hopes have been beaten by old boy Mavropanos in a spell that won West Ham
There are worse problems in life than Saka-dependencia. For one thing, if you rely too much on a quality attacking midfielder on the right side of English football, Bukayo Saka is definitely in your team; and that he looks like an excellent attacking midfielder on the right side of English football while there.
Good teams always depend on good players. Here’s how that equation works. Barcelona relied too much on Lionel Messi for at least ten years, a sad situation that was mitigated by the fact that they also won 34 trophies in that period, something to build on. The difference with Arsenal, of course, is the sense of a question that is still being answered, of a fine team as it is at the moment – still an asterisk in the story of titles won and trophies shared.
West Ham did little here that was unexpected. But they also looked in full control of their own destiny en route to a fine victory, achieved by one goal in each half. Against this, Arsenal spent the first half hitting their chins, plotting on a pad, running through those intricate, lateral patterns and waiting to win. At times it was like watching the winning stages of a world competitive knitting championship. Clack Clickety. Here we are again. Another fur, in a row, another attempt to kill you with our rather abrasive red string.
The most obvious block to Arsenal’s ambitions is the lack of variety in those attacking patterns. Every time he plays, Saka has to expend a huge amount of energy trying to force his way past two designated defenders. One thing about a relentlessly drilled attack formula is that your opponent can also read it, skim it back, predict its results. Here Said Benrahma and Emerson Palmieri could literally be seen measuring the space between them with their arms every time Saka got the ball, creating that pre-planned wall.
Saka didn’t stop coming, he hit the post, and there wasn’t a bad game here. Actually, this is not his problem to solve. The lack of a proper center forward hurt Arsenal more against a team that was willing to sit deep. This is hardly a mystery story, or a devilish tactical insight. Arsenal don’t have a goalkeeper. They lack sharks. They don’t have an angry, selfish, horrible player who pretends to feel great after a win that doesn’t have a personal score. One signing in January might bring its own problems. Who knows what kind of condition Ivan Toney is in right now? On the other hand, well, just sign a scorer.
This isn’t just an aggressive question, either. In possession Arsenal looked a split team at times, with five attackers and five defenders, and Declan Rice delegated the job of making the midfield look deep.
It’s not just a Saka issue, either. Gabriel Martinelli is also a great player, with a full range of speed, trickery, stamina, bravery. But he also looks like he needs a rest; and the rest are not to come because if not, then who?
It is that lack of variety that could hurt Arsenal now. Liverpool have more faults but also more scorers. Manchester City have more attacking range than any other team on the planet when the machine starts to clean. Meanwhile, Arsenal’s 22-year-old has been plagued with sprained ankles and headaches all season as he keeps having to deal with the same problem.
Related: Arteta admits West Ham’s win was one of Arsenal’s most frustrating nights
West Ham took an early lead after an extended VAR-check to determine if the ball had gone out in the build-up. The second goal was a fine header from a corner by Konstantinos Mavropanos. Arsenal kept coming, he didn’t stop, he kept running through his scales. The spirit is excellent. The chemistry is good. But this was also a missed opportunity, and a moment when the limitations of Arteta’s current best XI became apparent.
This should be Arsenal’s period of hunger, a series of important games with City still trembling at the seams and five points behind. You need a buffer zone, a pile of acorn points, to have a chance of staying out front. Arsenal are not in the habit of making big signings in the winter window. This could be a good moment to start.
