Retired Nigeria international Victor Ikpeba, who was coached by respected former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger at Monaco, has revealed that Arsenal are struggling in the Premier League because they lack creativity in the middle of the park.
Mikel Arteta's side have managed four straight wins in the Europa League which has seen them qualify for the knockout stages with two games to spare but their form in the English top-flight has been terrible, winning just once in five games while scoring only one goal from open play.
Ikpeba has insisted that Mesut Ozil, who has been left out of the Premier League roster, is not the answer to Arsenal's problems and urged the north London club to go for reinforcements when the transfer window reopens for business.
The former African Footballer of the Year singled out Bukayo Saka for praise despite Arsenal's recent run of poor results.
Speaking on SuperSport's Monday Night Football monitored by allnigeriasoccer.com, Ikpeba explained : "The team is struggling because when you are not picking points from week to week the team can be low on confidence too sometimes.
"They have done well in the Europa League so far but they have struggled in the last four to five Premier League games.
"Partey came in from Atletico Madrid, that was a good buy. They need a creative player in the middle of the park.
"I don't think Ozil is the solution, people have been talking, I don't really buy into that, they can go out there and look for a quality player that can contribute and can give those passes, that has the eye to give those passes to the likes of Aubameyang, Saka.
"Saka has been outstanding so far, the young Nigerian playing for the English national team but they have not been picking points and when you are not picking points you do struggle.
"When you look at the Arsenal performance towards the end of last season - how they destroyed the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea - all the way to win the FA Cup, then you start to see light at the end of the tunnel for this Arsenal side but it has not happened in the last four, five games".
"They have done well in the Europa League so far but they have struggled in the last four to five Premier League games.
"Partey came in from Atletico Madrid, that was a good buy. They need a creative player in the middle of the park.
"I don't think Ozil is the solution, people have been talking, I don't really buy into that, they can go out there and look for a quality player that can contribute and can give those passes, that has the eye to give those passes to the likes of Aubameyang, Saka.
"Saka has been outstanding so far, the young Nigerian playing for the English national team but they have not been picking points and when you are not picking points you do struggle.
"When you look at the Arsenal performance towards the end of last season - how they destroyed the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea - all the way to win the FA Cup, then you start to see light at the end of the tunnel for this Arsenal side but it has not happened in the last four, five games".
Arsenal, who are five points off the Champions League places ten games into the season, face table toppers Tottenham Hotspur in a London derby in their next Premier League game on Sunday, December 6.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
Photo Credit : arsenal.com
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com
Comments 0
Leave a Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!