Ex-Gunners star Steve Nicol has urged Mikel Arteta to make quick changes if he has ambitions of leading Arsenal to Champions League football.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta might have to change his side’s tactics moving forward or watch them suffer to another finish outside the top four. This is the opinion of Steve Nicol who weighs in on the Gunners’ loss to Aston Villa and believes some things need to be done differently at the Emirates.
The North London side were beaten 3-0 in humiliating fashion at the hands of Aston Villa on Sunday evening.
Arteta looked to have improved Arsenal’s defence since his arrival but that fixture brought the club’s recent struggles at the back to full light.
The Spaniard’s time in charge, which has spanned almost 12 months, has seen good progress so far. He led the club to an FA Cup triumph back in August, beating Manchester City and Chelsea to do so.
Arsenal came into the season hoping to secure Champions League football where they have not featured in since the 2015/16 season. However, they already have four defeats from eight league games and have scored only nine goals as well.
Ex-Liverpool man Steve Nicol thinks Arteta must develop his side so that they are able to dominate matches rather than sit back and look to get on the counter. Elsewhere, the current trio of Willian, Aubameyang and Lacazette has failed to impress and a change might be needed.
“Do you need me to talk again or can I just nod my head? Yes. They need to take the next step,” Nicol said on ESPN FC when asked if Arsenal are on course to finish outside of the top four again this year.
“Arteta has got them from there to there [using hand gestures]. He’s got them organised and playing really good, he’s made a couple of good signings, particularly Partey.
“Now they have to take the next step where they can actually dominate because I don’t remember the last time they dominated anybody.”
“They sit tight and break and they’ve got pace with Aubameyang but actually, they’ve gone kind of stale. We know exactly what they’re going to do now and they need to take a step up.”
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