In the third round of the FA Cup, Arsenal faced off against Manchester United. This match was a marketing success for the FA, generating high levels of interest, traffic, and anticipation. Despite the unexpected outcome, Arsenal's young lineup, with an average age of 24.4 years, created a storm of youth. Even with Dalot's red card and the referee's controversial bias, they managed to defeat Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, potentially leading to another season without major trophies for the Gunners. The higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment!
This double blow of physical and emotional intensity undoubtedly affected the Arsenal fans who stayed up late to watch the game. One might ask the loyal members who pay to watch matches: will they continue to do so next year? Arteta's tactical arrangements were problematic; the Spaniard is too obsessed with wing play. Sterling and Havertz crowded the right flank, while Martinelli and Trossard did the same on the left, creating a squeeze on ball possession. There was no one in the middle to receive passes, making crosses ineffective and lacking threat. The players lacked chemistry, and the wing play failed to produce the desired results. Arsenal's current style is too formulaic and rigid, failing to adapt to opponents or their own player's conditions. Arteta is not blameless, and calls for his dismissal are growing louder.
Many fans miss the Arsenal of three years ago, a team that played with creativity and vitality, free from the pressures of winning titles or the fear of losing. At that time, discussions among fans centered around the differences between Guardiola and Arteta, with an impressive lineup that included the versatile full-back Kieran Tierney, the central defensive partnership of Saliba and Gabriel, the "bad boy" Ben White, the experienced captain Granit Xhaka, and the dynamic Thomas Partey. There were also connections between Odegaard and Saka, as well as Jesus and Martinelli, creating a balanced attack.
Adding to the misfortunes, after Saka's absence due to injury, Arsenal's forward Gabriel Jesus suffered an ACL injury (torn anterior cruciate ligament), which could sideline him for months. In this match, Havertz lost his way, with some fans suggesting that Arsenal's downturn began with the expensive acquisition of the German midfielder. Havertz is seen as occupying a central position while playing as a midfielder, which has contributed significantly to the team's recent loss.
Given this situation, if Arsenal does not replace Arteta and still harbors ambitions, they will likely be active in the transfer market. After all, Arteta has already spent £700 million, so what's another £1 billion? However, considering Arsenal's approach to signings, finding suitable players is challenging. Many players linked with Arsenal end up joining other clubs.
Mouani from French giants Paris Saint-Germain is no longer under consideration by Arsenal. One reason is that both Arteta and Enrique are Spanish and do not particularly favor Mouani. Another reason is that Campos is a candidate for Arsenal's new sporting director. Arsenal has also approached Kingsley Coman from Bayern Munich, who Bayern hopes to sell for €35 million. However, Arsenal prefers a loan deal and does not want to bear Coman's salary alone.
Arsenal has a strong interest in Nico Williams from Athletic Bilbao, but this deal is unlikely to happen during the winter window due to a budget close to €70 million, which Arsenal cannot afford. They risk being outbid by their neighbors Chelsea. As for Cunha, it seems impossible as Wolves plan to renew his contract with a release clause. The buyout fee would be £45 million if the team is relegated, but it doubles to £90 million if they avoid relegation.