Arsene Wenger will surely be thinking that the end of the season can’t come soon enough after another away-day disappointment at Leicester on Wednesday.
The Gunners disastrous form means they are still the only team in all of English football yet to win a point on the road in 2018.
That is a depressing statistic, one made all the more pathetic, given their latest loss came against a Leicester side who hadn’t recorded a Premier League victory since the end of March.
Still, despite Arsenal’s shocking form, there are two glimmers of light which can give Arsene Wenger’s successor some hope for next season.
Firstly, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s impressive scoring form continued in Leicester, meaning he has now had a hand in 13 goals in 12 appearances since joining the Gunners in January from Borussia Dortmund (nine goals, 4 assists).
The club-record signing has lived up to his £56 million price tag and, alongside Alexandre Lacazette, promises further goals going into the 2018-19 campaign.
In addition to Aubameyang, the prodigiously talented Ainsley Maitland-Niles put in a performance of such composure that it belied 20 years.
A versatile, hard-working midfielder by trade, Niles has become Arsenal’s most promising prospect following spells at left-wing back, right back, centre back and defensive midfield.
Of course, there is no papering over the fact that Arsenal’s defensive issues have been exploited from every opposition imaginable this season.
Whether it’s Nottingham Forest or now-relegated FC Koln in the Europa League, the Gunners have leaked goals, made basic errors and lacked concentration in key moments.
Wenger says the team are only “two to three” additions away from challenging for the Premier League title next season – but it’s clear that Ivan Gazidis, Raul Sanllelhi and Sven Mislintat have their work cut out this summer in recruiting the kind of world-class performers required to turn this squad into a top team.
Indeed, this is an Arsenal side that has lost 11 away matches in a single Premier League season for the first time under Wenger.
Arsenal clearly face a huge rebuilding project this summer and, without Wenger at the helm, they will need someone who has a plan in place to write the wrongs of a painful campaign.
