Are Arsenal fans expecting too much from the current squad?

In the wake of the sacking of Unai Emery over a week ago Arsenal fans are searching for solutions to their recent decline. With cult hero Freddie Ljungberg in the hot-seat for the short-term future, what do Arsenal fans expect from this season and what did they expect following the departure of Arsene Wenger a year and a half ago?

There is no doubt that Arsenal have underperformed this year, the team have won just four out of fifteen games this season and are without a win in nine games. But were the pre-season expectations of a top four finish realistic? In my opinion, no.

The Arsenal squad is mired with deficiencies and devoid of talent, particularly in defensive areas. From the recklessness of David Luiz, Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis in the centre of defence to the problematic nature of Granit Xhaka’s character at the base of midfield, the team is flawed on all fronts. Any manager who could carry this disjointed team to a top four finish should be hailed as a hero rather than being seen as having met expectations.

Going forward the team also struggles, particularly away from home. While Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is a world-class striker, his goal-scoring prowess can only take a team so far . It is equally true that Arsenal have talented players in Alexandre Lacazette, Mesut Ozil, Matteo Guendouzi and Nicolas Pepe, but there are issues with fitness and assembling a defensively sound team with all of these players in the XI. Ultimately, the attacking talent also falls short of the necessary quality to make the top four.

Those expectations look even more astounding when considering the quality of the other teams battling for the top four. With Liverpool and Man City almost certainly locked in for the Champions League it leaves two more spots, most likely to be filled with one of Tottenham, Chelsea, Man United and Leicester – all of which are stronger than Arsenal. Each of their defences you would take over Arsenal’s in an instant. Other than possibly Man United, you’d take their midfield as well. And at this point in the year, would you take Aubameyang over Harry Kane or Jamie Vardy or Marcus Rashford? The answer is probably no.

Using these parameters, it is fair to say that Arsenal’s squad is the seventh best in the country. So why would a top four finish ever be considered realistic for such a team? Poor recruitment and lack of investment has not only led to stagnation but decline for one of the world’s biggest clubs. It is clear that without investment Arsenal won’t make it back to the top in England and no manager will be able to do so without a completely reshaped squad.

In that case, can we blame Unai Emery for Arsenal’s poor start this season considering he has very little say in player recruitment? Was a top four finish ever realistic for arguably the seventh best team in the country? Potentially, the sacking was harsh on the man who had to follow the greatest manager in the club’s history. But at the end of the day, football is a harsh business and the buck ultimately stops with the manager rather than the players. If history of long term managers being replaced is anything to go by (*cough* Man United *cough*) then Arsenal have a long road back to Premier League contention and will need a vastly reimagined squad before any manager can bring them there.