Arsenal crisis Casumo

Are Arsenal in a relegation battle?

That is something I would have never expected to ever type in my writing career. The words relegation and Arsenal do not seem to fit together. Let’s try another spin. Arsenal in the Championship. Wow. It’s a sobering moment for the Gunners who haven’t won any of their last FIVE Premier League games. 

When Mikel Arteta’s men beat Manchester United, we thought that’s exactly what they became: men. All pundits seemed to agree that the win would serve as a platform. We felt United were doomed and Arsenal were on the up. Of course, this is football. Arsenal’s success had no bearing on United’s, whose form improved in an ironic twist of faith.

The worst case scenario

The Burnley game was an advert of what could possibly go wrong for Arsenal. If you looked at a screen grab showing the match facts you’d gag in laughter. A Granit Xhaka red card. A defeat. An own goal, By the captain, and totally off-form Aubameyang. Still, that’s his goal drought over though! 

When I glanced at the final score on my screen, I honestly thought it was put together by a cheeky student on Photoshop as a troll. But yet, the only troll Arsenal have right now is themselves. He’s now scored more goals for opposing teams than Arsenal at the Emirates this season. Infact, since his new bumper contract extension, he’s scored just one goal, a penalty. Six Premier League centre backs have scored more than him in that same period and it’s clear he’s off the pace. 

A club in crisis

On and off the field, the club as a whole seems to be in a crisis right now. They made headlines in summer for sacking 55 staff members due to the pandemic. One of those victims was indeed Gunnersaurus, the internet sensation. A club sacking employees should come as no shock, but when you’ve renewed contracts like Aubameyangs, made high profile signings like Thomas Partey, then yes, you can sense the mood around the club is bleak. At least Gunnersaurus is back from furlough, with even Mesut Ozil offering to pay the wages of the man in the suit, super fan Jerry Guy. 

They lost their fans a while ago during Wenger’s last couple of seasons in charge. Unai Emery caused further divisions, while Mike Arteta, a club legend you must remember, is hardly getting anything right. 

And there’s more

It’s the gift that keeps on giving for neutrals. Bad results, huge contracts, mass-sackings… and the whole situation around Mesut Ozil. The German playmaker was left out of Arteta’s Premier League and Europa League squads this season, for reasons unknown. He trains with the first team who seem to crave an attack minded, assist-giving footballer. Many theories try to explain his omission. Is it bad form, a bad relationship with Arteta, a contract clause triggering payments, or is something deeper lurking? We won’t go too deep here however Ozil’s political views have often caused a stir, but surely this January seems the ideal month to sell him cheap and slash the wage bill further – something they tried to do with the 55 sackings.

 

Relegation or redemption?  

We’re hardly going to pay out on Arsenal getting relegated, but it seems impressive to see them just four points off the bottom three. 13 points from 12 games is a hopeless return. It’s still early but 10 points separate them from the coveted Champions League spot and that seems like a mammoth task. Brilliantly, they are up against Southampton next, who occupy that fourth spot after a 3-0 win over Sheffield United. 

Would Arteta survive another defeat? He does talk the talk and has so far avoided the hard-line pressing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has become used to, but it is now time to walk the walk, or risk walking the plank. 

Arsenal need results and they need them now. You can get them to beat Southampton with odds of 6/5 or 2.2, however realistically you’re better off backing another defeat. The Saints are 11/1 or 12.00 to win both halves and cast Arsenal in deeper darkness. 

18+ | Please gamble responsibly | T&Cs apply | rgf.org.mt

Welcome bonuses to all new players

100% bonus up to €300 and 20 free spins

Sign up

18+. The welcome bonus contains 20 free spins in Book of Dead and 100% bonus (up to €300). Bonuses must be wagered 30 times. Play responsibly • rgf.org.mtT&Cs apply