3 reasons Arsenal could still challenge for the top four

He’s also playing for his next contract now. He can command huge wages as he’d be available on a free transfer at the end of the season.

This might be the last big deal of his career. A great season at Arsenal would maximise his negotiating strength.

Alexandre Lacazette

Arsenal have lacked a world-class striker since Robin van Persie left in 2012.

They may now have one in Alexandre Lacazette.

Olivier Giroud is often underrated but lacks pace.

Danny Welbeck ticks most boxes but can’t be relied on in front of goal.

Lacazette combines speed, work rate, excellent movement and clinical finishing.

If Arsenal can be more disciplined at the back (admittedly a big if), the France international can make the difference at the other end of the pitch.

That is, if he starts the game. Wenger made the strange decision to drop the club-record signing for the defeat against Liverpool. You’d think he would have learned his lesson now.

Things Surely Have to Change

Arsene Wenger is no longer the groundbreaking manager he once was. He’s clearly a very intelligent man though. It makes his persistent failure to address his team’s issues even more baffling.

Playing three central defenders hasn’t made Arsenal any more solid this season.

Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey don’t offer enough protection as a midfield duo. It doesn’t matter how good the individual defenders are if opposition attackers constantly get a free run at them.

Wenger’s sides used to be known for playing breathtaking football and giving young players a chance. That’s not really the case anymore. They seem to lurch from one quick fix to the next.

A Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin partnership was one plaster over the midfield weakness. It only came about because of injuries but it worked until Cazorla got injured.

Lwast season’s switch to a back three was an attempt to turn the team’s form around. It led to the team’s FA Cup victory but looks like it’s reached its breaking point now.

Even at this early stage, another change is needed.

Will it be enough to finish ahead of teams that are better managed and organised? We’ll have to wait and see.

Click here for all the latest Premier League odds.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the time of publication