boss claimed solely final month that had been lucky with accidents this season. However that could not be farther from the reality for .
Arsenal began the season with a comparatively small squad. Arteta had shifted out so many gamers he thought-about not having a future on the membership.
Nobody anticipated a title problem on the Emirates this season, therefore why the hierarchy needed to transfer rapidly within the January window to offer Arteta the perfect likelihood doable and assist bolster his squad choices. However because the marketing campaign started, Arteta's most popular beginning XI turned clear for all to see.
Arsenal received their first three matches of the season, after shedding the opening three of the marketing campaign earlier than. Victories over Crystal Palace, Leicester and Bournemouth acquired the Gunners off to the right begin.
Arteta named the identical beginning XI for all three of these video games. 5 gamers have been signed in the summertime and two of them instantly turned shoo-ins in Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
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Zinchenko slotted in at left-back, with Ben White taking on a brand new function on the alternative facet of defence. William Saliba impressed right away alongside Gabriel, with Aaron Ramsdale beginning his first full season because the membership's No 1.
Arteta felt assured enjoying a 4-3-3 formation, with Thomas Partey the deeper-lying member of the midfield. Granit Xhaka regarded a distinct play as a No 8 and took to captaincy like a duck to water.
and Gabriel Martinelli are Arsenal's two huge wizards, with Jesus lastly given the prospect to spearhead a staff's assault by way of the center. For those who ask an Arsenal fan or most neutrals, that XI could be what they choose as Arteta's first-choice staff.
However Arteta hasn't had it simple. Since these three wins originally of the season, he has solely been capable of title that staff on three additional events.
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The final of these instances was earlier than the World Cup when Arsenal beat Wolves 2-0 at Molineux. They have been cruising at that time and it appeared as if no staff might get of their approach.
Arsenal have received all six matches when Arteta has fielded his strongest staff. They've scored 15 targets, conceding simply three, and saved 4 clear sheets.
When groups win a title, individuals typically reminisce a few beginning XI in formation that reminds them of that season. However Arsenal have now performed 17 league video games in a row the place they've been unable to choose that staff.
Gabriel Jesus acquired injured on the World Cup which dominated him out for months. As quickly as he acquired again, William Saliba suffered a again damage that now seems set to maintain him out for the remainder of the season.
These are the 2 largest blows Arteta has suffered. However there have been others. Thomas Partey has solely began 25 of 32 league video games, lacking the journey to Outdated Trafford and vitally the go to of title rivals Manchester Metropolis in January - each video games which Arsenal misplaced.
Zinchenko has began simply 23 after a number of damage issues within the early phases of the season. Groups get accidents and maybe Arsenal have not had as many as some groups.
However Ten Hag's remark that Arsenal "virtually have on a regular basis a squad that's completely accessible" is totally unfounded. It's not simply the primary XI the place accidents have struck.
Emile Smith Rowe, one of many shining lights in England final season, missed virtually 4 months with a groin drawback. Mohamed Elneny had over two months on the sidelines between August and November with a hamstring drawback earlier than struggling a knee damage in January which has dominated him out for the rest of the season.
Takehiro Tomiyasu additionally injured his knee at simply the improper time. He went off 10 minutes earlier than Saliba was struck down together with his again problem through the Europa League last-16 loss to Sporting Lisbon.
Tomiyasu might have been a key play within the last months of the season as he would have enabled Arteta to maneuver White to centre-back in Saliba's absence. Arteta has as an alternative been left with no different selection however to play Rob Holding in each recreation.
For Arsenal to win the league this season they wanted the whole lot to go their approach. Many felt Jesus' damage was going to price them and in some way they got here by way of it.
However the Saliba absence has been way more damaging. If Arteta thought his staff have been going to be in a title race, maybe he would not have Holding as his first-choice back-up at proper centre-back.
Not the whole lot may be pinned on Holding in current weeks, it might be unfair to take action. However Arsenal merely do not have the squad to complete above Manchester Metropolis.
Arsenal have not received the title for the reason that Invincibles season of 2003/04. Most followers now might title what they might think about the first-choice staff from that marketing campaign.
Jens Lehmann in objective, a again 4 of Lauren, Kolo Toure, Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole, Patrick Vieira and Gilberto Silva in the midst of the park, with Freddie Ljunberg and Robert Pires out huge offering service to a entrance two of Dennis Bergkamp, simply behind Thierry Henry.
Sound acquainted? There have been T-shirts made from that XI and folks nonetheless put on them on the Emirates to today.
In reality, solely picked that XI on TWO events all season throughout all competitions. Each have been within the Premier League, one in every of which the title was already sealed on the ultimate day in opposition to Leicester.
That could be laborious to imagine. However Wenger had seasoned execs corresponding to Ray Parlour and Martin Keown, gamers that had been there earlier than and performed it, in addition to thrilling younger skills corresponding to Jose Antonio Reyes and Gael Clichy.
Arsenal had received the league simply two years earlier, so the likes of Sylvain Wiltord, Kanu and Edu all know what it took. The squad was not the largest - Wenger used simply 22 gamers within the league - however the overwhelming majority had performed it earlier than.
So even when Wenger could not title his so-called greatest XI, he had different choices that have been greater than as much as the duty. Sadly for Arsenal, this season has been one step too far for the back-up brigade.
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