Tim’s Match Preview: Leicester v Arsenal

Away from home, Arsenal average 11 shots per game. There is, justifiably, a lot of attention on Arsenal’s defence. For some years, the Gunners have become the kind of byword for exploding clown car defending. But slowly, Arsenal’s attacking instincts have also dulled and the offensive potential has dropped- especially away from home.

On Wednesday at Wolves, despite enjoying the lion’s share of possession Arsenal forced 1 shot on target- Sokratis’ goal, a header from a setpiece. Fact is, beyond Aubameyang and Lacazette, Arsenal lack reliable goalscorers. They’ve good passers, players that can knit play together through possession. But once the ball arrives in the final third, there just aren’t enough players that look to get behind defences.

In recent years, Arsenal have (justifiably) lost the likes of Theo Walcott, Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud, while Danny Welbeck (himself not exactly a prolific scorer) has been injured. In their place, only really Pierre Emerick Aubameyang picks up the goal scoring slack. Iwobi, Mkhitaryan, Özil, even Suarez, are nice players but not exactly the types you would count on for a goal.

Ramsey’s absence has been so keenly felt because Arsenal have lost the only other player who keeps defenders on their toes with powerful off the ball running. The team were rendered toothless at Wolves because Lacazette’s frequent jogs to meet play were not supplemented by players running into the space he vacates.

At Leicester, Arsenal need to find a way to increase their offensive potential, or else they may have to endure more endless passages of limp probing. Unai Emery needs to find a way to increase the sense of devil in his attack, but it’s difficult to see where it might come from. Maybe Lucas Torreira can play slightly higher up and disrupt the Foxes?

Can Alex Iwobi suddenly develop some end product? Can Eddie Nketiah shit Brendan Rodgers’ defence up by doing something other than slowly passing the ball from side to side with Arsenal’s collection of ‘final third entry’ non-shooters? Whatever the solution and however unforeseeable, the coach has to find a solution, or else Arsenal’s away day woes are set to continue.