Another weekend passes by, and Arsenal deliver another muted offensive display.
On Saturday, the Gunners were toothless as they to fell to a 2-0 away defeat against rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
While Pensioners forward Diego Costa stole the headlines for his off-the-ball antics, proving influential as Gabriel Paulista and Santi Cazorla were dismissed, the question of the Gunners’ offensive deficiencies went somewhat under the radar.
Once again, the North London side were fairly toothless in attack, managing nine shots to the Blues’ 22, although admittedly, they struggled to see the ball, managing less than 40 percent possession.
Theo Walcott was used in attack, but was comfortably negotiated by Kurt Zouma, while Olivier Giroud made scant impact after being introduced.
They struggles come in stark contrast to the performances of Edinson Cavani and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, two Arsenal transfer targets who Arsene Wenger opted not to sign during the summer.
The latter was influential this weekend in the Bundesliga, as Borussia Dortmund managed a 3-0 away victory over Bayer Leverkusen—scoring his side’s third goal and proving a constant threat for the home side.
Over in France, Edinson Cavani was similarly menacing.
Paris Saint-Germain may have fallen to a disappointing 1-1 draw away at Stade de Reims—who battled relegation last term—but Cavani was on song, equalising after coming on as a substitute.
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The goal was the forward’s sixth effort in his last four matches, making him one of Europe’s most in-form strikers at the moment.
It begs the question, why on earth did the Arsenal coach decide to persist with Walcott and Giroud, rather than investing in Aubameyang and Cavani in the summer?
It’s a decision he may well live to regret…