In back-to-back performances, both Thomas Partey and Sambi Lokonga have had poor performances. The pair both endured individual mistakes leading to goals in the match against Crystal Palace.
They struggled to get out from the Brighton press two weeks earlier and again were the crux of the issue as Arsenal put on another restricted performance.
Mikel Arteta looked to make a tactical change at halftime to bring on the Belgian however it ended up causing more problems than solutions. Arsenal’s issues in midfield since the injury to Granit Xhaka were again highlighted and the lack of depth stuck out like a sore thumb.
Xhaka’s absence has left the decision not to strengthen in the summer further than the 21-year-old prodigy in the spotlight. The contract extension of the Swiss midfield looked the signal to stop any pursuit of a player before the window’s closure.
Yet with him injured and the depth options beyond Partey and Lokonga not looking up to scratch, Arsenal are losing the midfield battles in all the games since the north London derby win.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles looks now the most likely player to step up in the short term. The England international has looked good in his few cameos and Lokonga’s displays signal a need to take the youngster out of the spotlight.
However, the larger elephant in the room will be the rapidly approaching January transfer window. Xhaka should be strongly on the road to recovery, and even back by then, yet the reminder of what a serious injury can do to the team should spark the club into action.
Mohamed Elneny is rumoured to be on the way out in the winter also which is another cause to encourage technical director Edu to act.
With many games between now and the window though, Mikel Arteta has to try and get more from what is available to him in the present.
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