Key Players Sidelined, Transfer Signings Add More Pressure To Arsenal's Tumultuous Start

Things could not have gone worse for Arsenal and their manager Mikel Arteta.

The former Arsenal player remained unfazed despite the criticism that has gone around his transfer policy going into the new English Premier League season.

During this transfer window, Arsenal had signed five players under the age of 23 namely: Ben White, Nuno Tavares, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Martin Odegaard and most recently, Aaron Ramsdale.

“We have to be sustainable. We have to perform now and we also need a plan for the medium and long term,” said Arteta while talking to Sky Sports.

“A lot of the decisions we have made over the last 18 months are because we had a big imbalance in certain areas that was putting the club in a difficult position… I think we have created a really strong team who really enjoy working together. Hopefully, you will see the fruits of this.”

The youth movement at the Emirates Stadium has not gone over well with Arsenal fans as they believe that the club could have done better in the hopes of securing a UEFA Champions League berth.

Their surprising loss to Brentford last weekend to kick off their season added even more pressure on the club to win against Chelsea this past weekend.

Romelu Lukaku and Reece James made sure that did not happen as they beat Arsenal, 2-0, continuing the downward spiral for Arteta’s side.

Arteta blames injury for their loss to Chelsea as they were missing nine of their first-team players, highlighted by Alexandre Lacazette, Willian and Alex Runarsson testing positive for COVID-19.

“It is really challenging. At the moment, we are missing nine players and the majority of them are big senior players,” said Arteta.

“But credit to the boys, how they are trying, the passion they are bringing to the team. They are playing with a lot of courage in this situation, which is tough.”

Arsenal has a chance to give fans hope before their August 28 fixture against Manchester City as they are set to face West Bromwich Albion in an English Football League Carabao Cup fixture on Wednesday, August 25.