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It's not easy being an Arsenal fan this season.
The Gunners have now lost seven of their 12 matches so far, which is their worst start to a top-flight campaign since 1975.
Their latest setback came in the 1-0 home defeat to Burnley this morning, which was their fourth straight loss at the Emirates this season.
Their tally of just 10 goals is also their lowest at this stage of a top-flight season since 1981/1982.
It leaves Arsenal sitting 15th in the Premiership standings, just five points off the relegation zone.
It is not the kind of statistics you’d expect to see from a club that makes up the Premier League’s ‘Big Six'.
Also bear in mind that Arsenal are the reigning FA Cup (and Community Shield) holders and were Europa League finalists two seasons ago, so the slump has come as a bit of a shock.
Where did it go wrong?
Much of the blame has been put on the shoulders of manager Mikel Arteta.
The fans may love his loyalty and commitment to the club, but they’re losing patience with his inability to find a solution to the team’s woes this season.
Players have been underperforming, most notably star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and there appears to be little Arteta is able to do about it.
There’s also the whole Mesut Ozil fiasco – with the World Cup winner frozen out of the Arsenal squad after falling out with the manager.
What’s worse, the Spaniard is believed to have lost the support and confidence of some of his other senior players – some of whom, rumour has it, are no longer on speaking terms with their manager.
Bizarrely, Arsenal’s slump is only confined to the Premiership.
In Europe, they appear to be a different team altogether, having topped their Europa League group with a 100% win record.
Unfortunately, the team has been unable to replicate their European form domestically.
What now?
Unsurprisingly, the calls for Arteta’s head to roll are growing louder.
Almost immediately after the Burnley defeat, the hashtag #ArtetaOut started trending on social media.
The general consensus is that while Arteta is well-loved as a person, he’s no longer able to take the club further.
And if the rumours of Arteta losing the dressing room are true, then it's only a matter of time before he’s asked to leave.
The only thing working in his favour now is their European form, but all that will change if Arsenal crash out in the Europa League knockout round.
Former Juventus boss Max Allegri is the odds-on favourite to replace Arteta, while PSG’s Thomas Tuchel and Leicester’s Brendan Rodgers have also been mentioned as possible candidates.
by Nicholas Darren John
