Former Arsenal star names Arteta’s biggest problem

Former Arsenal midfielder Michael Thomas has revealed Mikel Arteta’s biggest problem and named a player who could solve it.

Almost three months after leading Arsenal to a record 14th FA Cup title, Arteta is faced with the biggest challenge of his short managerial career to date.

The Gunners have lost three of their opening six Premier League games in the 2020/21 campaign to leave them down in 11th-place. And with Manchester United up next in the league, a quick-fix would be most welcome.

Critics, meanwhile, have lambasted star forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for his lack of goals. In fact, he’s failed to score in his last five league games. It’s the worst goal-drought of his Arsenal career yet.

Arteta’s decision to leave out Mesut Ozil from the Premier League squad, meanwhile, could come back to haunt him. It’s clear the midfield is short on creativity, despite the big-money signing of Thomas Partey.

Now Thomas has suggested Arteta should revisit his interest in Lyon star Houssem Aouar.

“Through Arteta giving the team a more robust look, it has come at a cost to the creative side of our game,” the ex-Gunners player told Caught Offside. “The players are playing very rigid.

“You need to be able to control the ball in areas that the opposing team doesn’t want to be and suffocate them. I think this will change in time but it needs to be sooner rather than later.

“Mesut Ozil obviously offers great creativity when he plays, but at what cost to the team’s efficiency?

“The team obviously needs more creativity going forward because they simply don’t have enough good efforts on goal. We are used to the frontline being played in behind, but recently everything seems to be in front of the opposition with no penetration or speed in the attacks.

“Another creative outlet is very needed whether it be Aouar or someone else.”