Here is a list of Arsenal players who have to improve their performance post the October International break.
It’s third time lucky, that’s how we say right? Arsenal have been on the fringes of becoming Premier League champions in the last couple of seasons. They had finished as runners up twice behind Man City. The title was decided on the final day of the season. We are sure that Arsenal hope to finally get their hands on the silverware this season. So for that they need to rely on their players to deliver week in week out. With a packed fixture list like this season it is certain that Arteta would have to rotate the squads. That’s when they want their backup players or the second choice starters to deliver. Here is a list of players who Arsenal would want to improve their performance post International break.
1) Gabriel Jesus
On top of the list and the player Arsenal desperately want to improve the performance will be Gabriel Jesus. After signing from Manchester City for €45 m in the summer of 2022, had a brilliant first season with the Gunners. The Brazilian picked up 11 goals and 7 assists in 33 appearances. Even though he couldn’t deliver like he did during his City days the striker was influential for the Gunners title challenge.
However the second season saw a huge dip in form as he didn’t reach double figures in the league or in the cup competitions. The striker struggled with some injury concerns which kept him sidelined for some days. The injury to his knee has been hampering his progress with the team. His numbers for center forwards weren’t so impressive. And the style Mikel Arteta wanted him to play potentially didn’t suit him. The Gunners boss then went on to buy Kai Havertz from Chelsea who was more suited for his style. There is an insane stat about these two players. Kai Havertz who joined from Chelsea in the summer of 2023 has had more goals (20) to his name than Gabriel Jesus (19). All stats taken from transfermarkt.com.
The Arsenal number nine is yet to score a goal this season in his 8 appearances this season. Anyway this is a long and tough season ahead and Arteta would want his players to deliver when given a chance.
2) Jakub Kiwior
Jakub Kiwior is another one who has struggled at the start of the season. We also have to keep in mind that the chances are also meagre for him. With the addition of Riccardo Calafiori it would be really hard to get chances in the team. Arteta has used center backs Calafiori and Jurien Timber at either full back positions. This has also reduced chances for the Ukrainian Oleksander Zinchenko. Unfortunately from Kiwior’s perspective the current game plan has been going so well that Arteta is hesitant to make changes. As I said earlier he will be forced to make changes when the fixtures come on the trot.
The Polish defender has only featured four times this season and expecting him to perform well is insane. But that is what the game nowadays demands of you and if you don’t deliver on demand it’s over and the door shuts.
3) Ben White
It is hard to believe that I am saying this name but it is what it is. Ben White started the season well enough and also was the first choice at left back until he got injured. And new signing Riccardo Calafiori pounced on the chance. When Ben White got injured, Arteta was forced to send Jurien Timber to the left back position while integrating Calafiori into the right back position. Anyway Timber performed well and continues to feature in that position as well as the Italian.
As per the reports Ben White suffered an injury just before the previous International break and is yet to be back in full training. When the Englishman is back, Arteta is going to face a healthy selection crisis.
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