Ex-Arsenal duo Paul Merson and Ian Wright were unimpressed on what they saw from the Gunners on the weekend as Premier League newcomers Brentford came out on top in west London on Friday night - both identifying a lack of intensity from Mikel Arteta's side.
Goals in either half from Sergi Canos and Christian Norgaard means Arteta's team now face the daunting possibility of attaining zero points from their first three Premier League fixtures of the 2021/22 campaign, with Champions League winners Chelsea and Premier League champions Manchester City awaiting the north Londoners.
A mixed pre-season coupled with fans' low confidence going into this campaign signifies that this result wasn't as shocking as first perceived.
However, former Arsenal players Merson and Wright were both dismayed with what they witnessed at the Brentford Community Stadium on Friday night.
Merson admitted that the north Londoners' showing in west London 'scared' him looking ahead to the rest of the season.
"It scared me last night watching it," Merson told Sky Sports.
"When you are watching it on the TV, you only see six or seven players on the television because there isn’t really enough space to show the whole pitch and the team.
"But I was mind blown with what I watched last night. When I came back into the lounge after the game was finished, I just couldn’t believe what I just watched.
"I cannot believe that was Arsenal- that's gone.
"If you were going to say to Brentford before the game that you were going to play one of the so-called big teams, who do you want to pick- they would have picked Arsenal.
"That’s where it’s gone. There was no energy, it was safe."
Soccer Saturday's usual charismatic pundit did pick out one positive from the defeat but then went onto describe more negatives that were apparent from the London derby.
“I mean Smith Rowe did well- he's a very good player," the 53-year-old said.
"Tierney also did well, and when Saka came on, he also did well. They are their three players; I’m looking at all the other players and thinking I ain’t even sure Brentford would take you on. I'm not sure you would even get in Brentford’s team today!
"If you went to Thomas Frank and asked him who do you want to take for Crystal Palace away next week, he would say it’s alright- I'll just take my team.
"Even the Arsenal fans who were away from home sung one song the whole game! I hear players saying no Aubameyang and no Lacazette, but what did Aubameyang do last year?
"I massively worry."
A similar sentiment shared by legendary striker Wright, who was filmed by Sky Sports with a dejected look on his face near the end of the contest.
The 57-year-old told BBC Match of the Day: "I'm not looking glum anymore.
“There wasn’t anything to cheer, and you’ve got to understand what Brentford were going to bring in their first game with fans inside the stadium.
"Like [Alan Shearer] said, they had a better plan and a better execution.
"No Lacazette, No Auba and no intensity.
"I found that the young players had a little too much responsibility, and I feel as though we are sticking to the things that we were doing last season where we weren’t getting a lot of joy from.
"Lost possession too many times, and wasn’t really going anywhere.
"We seem to be really struggling when it comes to creating high-quality chances, and just creating regular shots.
"I know the boss said that he will take it on himself, but we need improvement and we need to do more.
"Smith Rowe was the only player to do well."
