5 Problems That Are Blighting Arsenal's Season

2. Injuries

Perceived as being the Arsenal fans' answer to all of their criticisms in recent years, "we've had such bad luck with injuries" has likely been uttered by every Gooner at some stage in the last ten seasons. While it probably joins the "next year is our year" assertions of Liverpool fans as being one of the more annoying football fan excuses, there is actually some truth in this one. Arsenal truly have had a torrid ten years with injuries. Last season, they spent more time in the top spot than any other Premier League team but still fell short of taking the crown. This failure was caused by a drastic mid-season slump, which coincided with their undeniable star player Aaron Ramsey missing three months of the campaign. Fortunately Ramsey returned just in time to guide the Gunners to the first trophy in nine years, but it is just further proof of how much of a blight injuries have been during Arsene Wenger's tenure at the club. It's another shame that this season is already starting to follow a similar pattern. Wenger's decision to allow so many defenders to leave the club and enter the season with just six (seven if youngster Bellerin is counted) defenders to rely on was a risky one, but it has been horribly compounded by early injuries to Laurent Koscielny and Mathieu Debuchy. The result of this has meant that Nacho Monreal has had to deputise out of position alongside Per Mertesacker at the heart of Arsenal's defence, and recent results are clearly showing that the two cannot function together well enough for an ambitious side like Arsenal. It's actually, perhaps, a blessing that injuries have struck Arsenal at this stage of the season as it may force action from Wenger in the approaching January transfer window. For now, though, it's just another bump on the road Arsenal are trying to traverse back to the top.