Plagued for a generation, Arsenal's tribulations begin to show signs of fading

As football teams go, Arsenal have remained perpetually amusing: infused with a ceaseless chasm of mediocrity on the ripened fields, this virulent, cyclical pattern prolongs a consistent narrative that has echoed erratically around the red part of north London since the fading days of Arsène Wenger’s supremacy. That was some time ago. Surely the cliché curse of moving to new seats and soils should have subsided by now, or can it, too, not escape the comical merry-go-round? A discourteous vortex of time has swallowed them up, leaving them to corrode without reason, intervention, promise.

But hold on a minute, is this something resembling a plan that we can see? Finally someone took the initiative of going to the local Premier to purchase some vinegar for that nasty rust. Untouched for a decade, an onerous smell is beginning to rise above the surface, replaced by a breeze as fresh as any in the capital. Mikel Arteta’s tenure within that galactic technical area has not been without its tumultuous moments: worst start since 1954, Villareal, Aubameyang, fan fickleness, Nottingham Forest, lingering malaise … Xhaka. At least that Amazon documentary should be a fun watch.

Yet recently there have been flickering signs of intermittent ambition and method. It might not sound revolutionary but, to the poleaxed bums on their cushioned seats, it’s the closest thing to salvation. When Arteta was appointed head coach at his former home in December 2019, he stated, foursquare: “I want people who deliver passion and energy in the football club”. Well, Mikel, it seems you’re getting there, slowly. Bubbling from the fountain of youth is the future: Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli, Charlie Patino - a loading emblem for not only Arsenal, but international football as a whole.

Sure, those that tower above in Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea possess a distinct direction concocted of genuine, balanced quality. There’s a coherent feel around these clubs, both on the pitch and in the soaring stands that hang overhead. Of course, success harnesses this patina of goodwill, spinning smoothly, harmoniously with one another. In the last decade, Arsenal’s parched honours board shows four FA Cups, four Community Shields, two Emirates Cups and, ermmmm, end of list. But hey, at least it’s more than Tottenham…that’s all that matters, right?

Replenishing the thirsty veins with some forgotten psyche is evidently no elementary assignment. But this metaphorical vaccine can be spawned by removing the seemingly intractable and malcontent that leaves a repugnant taste on the slithery tongue. Granit Xhaka and red cards: a synonymous blend of hindrance and hilarity. The second coming of Lee Cattermole, the only thing absent is the tucked in shirt and the ability to score a worldie every one-in-a-hundred-thousand attempts. Like concrete boots weighing you down, you’d think he himself were roving aimlessly around the various lawns in a similar fabric.

And then there’s Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang, who clearly couldn't care any less. Ostracised from the squad whilst removed as captain followed reoccurring not-so-alleged disciplinary breaches that has seen the Gabonese forward play ninety minutes since the opening week of December…for his country. Aubameyang is a wonderful finisher whose sharp movement of yesteryear appears to have abandoned him. Sixty-four league goals in his first three-and-a-half years on the Piccadilly Line is devastatingly productive — that’s just under a goal every other game — but look to the present: just four recorded all season, as the cog starts to stutter.

This is perhaps less of a worry than the stuff occurring away from the stadium. To see your captain, your so-called ‘leader’, make a mockery of the very thing you have worked tirelessly to resurrect, now that’s got to be a steel-toed kick to the fragiles. It’s as if Arsenal are the only club to achieve such expectancy. Even when they dragged themselves out of the dreary darkness of the Premier League basement by going eight games unbeaten, there lingered still a feeling of assurance that soon something would swipe at the ladder from underneath - whether that be on or off the green pasture.

Here lies the vicious cycle: one step forward, two steps back. Around this time last campaign things were bleak for Arsenal: languishing in the lower half, supporters making their voices heard (mostly by not even attending which, in all honesty, was probably the sagacious move). Nevertheless, they improved, finished in eighth position, and Arteta was backed by his overseers in fancy suits with great stacks of pound notes in the Summer transfer market. Here he would acquire the once malleable, now injured right-back, Takehiro Tomiyasu, in addition to Aaron Ramsdale and Ben White, the latter moving from Brighton for a fee of £50 million.

These have been progressive moves, from an Arsenal point of view at least. Too often have they plumped vast sums of money on midfielders and forwards, whilst leaving their consistently feeble defence at the rear of their minds. What’s that old quote: ‘“Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles”. Maybe a thought slightly too far for Arsenal fans but the premise stands: Give them time to gel as one, lend them your patience, and be grateful for the fledgling talents giving their all on the turf … and for the fervent, lego-haired one that stands in the painted box, proud to lead his side into battle.