They only managed one shot on target despite holding 63.9 per cent of possession.
The title may already be over as only Manchester City in 2020/21 have won the Premier League with as few as 18 points after ten games.
Cascarino continued: “I look at their, especially their forward players, and I'm not including Saka in this because I think largely he's been outstanding for Arsenal this season, but Martinelli's way off his game. He's a young man, he signed a new deal not so long ago, he was flying, he seems like he's lost his place slightly with the introduction of Trossard coming to the club.
“Trossard's playing a slightly different role, he's sort of lost his little bit of form as well. Havertz is looking more like the Havertz that Chelsea had for a while, and he's had a really good start to the season. They were second best everywhere on the pitch, I felt."
Arteta seemed to trade electric attacking football for a stone wall defence, one which earned 18 clean sheets last season with William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes performing at world class levels.
However, this season has not reflected a team with Pep Guardiola like fluidity or a Jose Mourinho type brawn.
Saka has continued to impress this season, breaking a Thierry Henry record
Saka has continued to impress this season, breaking a Thierry Henry record
Arsenal have now gone six Premier League games without keeping a clean sheet, dating back to September when they beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0.
No other forward has given Arsenal the consistency needed to be confident in a title charge.
This debate comes as the usual captain, Martin Odegaard, suffered an ankle injury on international break for Norway against Austria in September.
Prior to the Newcastle match Arteta gave an update on the midfielder’s fitness: “Now is the stage when he will do certain work with us. Let's see how he deals with pain, if he moves naturally enough, if he is physically now at the level that requires him to compete.
“But with the work rate and the hours he’s put in, I would be surprised that the moment he starts training with us, we don’t say that he looks ready. So hopefully soon.”
0 Comments