3 Key Issues Arsenal Needs To Work On During International Break

With the international break coming right after the dissapointing week Arsenal fans had having first watched their team throw away a 3-0 lead at home to draw 3-3 against Anderlecht to a loss at the hands of Swansea City after taking the lead, Arsene Wenger knows he had his task cut out for him. Right from the attack not clicking to the defenders not doing their job to downright bad luck with the injuries, the reasons are many for Arsenal’s disastrous campaign in the Premier League and Champions League so far which has seen them win only 4 of the 14 matches played. Here at Soccersouls we discuss the three things Arsenal needs to work on during the international break.

1. Extra Defensive drills for the available defenders

How about this for a piece of alarming statisctics: In the last match against Swansea City Nacho Monreal did not win a single aerial duel while Per Mertesacker did not win a single tackle. If that does not send a chill down your spine, nothing else will. Arsene Wenger is a man renowned for trying to do everything on his own. However he has to see he has one of the best defenders during his early years as the Arsenal manager as his assistant. Surely he has to give Steve Bould the freedom to shape up this defence so that they do not look so vulnerable in every match. Also Nacho Monreal will always be bullied by the bigger strikers in the league. Perhaps this time can be well used to train Hector Bellerin to start at the right of the Arsenal defence so that Arsenal can put the centre back pairing of Per Mertesacker and Calum Chambers on the field. That can surely help even if it is just a bit.

2. Approach the next few games with pragmatism

 There is an old saying, ‘Defence wins you matches’. As much as Alexis Sanchez is going to dazzle or Danny Welbeck continues to slot home the goals, as long there is not a balance Arsenal will not achieve a consistency. As much as Arsenal were ridiculed last season by the critics for their humbling defeats at the hands of the title contenders away, they were a very balanced side while facing the other teams in the league. Arsene Wenger had a sense of pragmatism in him last season where the North London club won several key games 1-0. Perhaps going back to that routine will help.

3. Speeding up players recovery

 Granted this one is not really in Arsenal’s hand but still this needs to given real care during what is left of this international break. Already Olivier Giroud’s recovery was months ahead of schedule and the Arsenal fans will be hoping Shad can work similar miracles on Ozil and Koscielny. If this period can be focussed on getting players out of the injury list, then there can be nothing better than that.