Arsenal's Wasteful Attack Reveals Problems at Both Ends of the Pitch

Up until now, Arsenal’s season has been a story of woeful defending. However, after their latest defeat against Manchester United, it is their attack that is set to come under scrutiny.

Arsenal dominated for long periods against United yet struggled to find a breakthrough. This match followed a pattern that is becoming frighteningly familiar to Gunners fans: Boss the game in the opening period, fail to capitalise and then concede at the first opportunity.

Big matches hinge on the finest of margins. Usually, the first goal is decisive, so it's vital you get ahead when you're on top.

Arsenal started the game in fine fashion: The Emirates Stadium was rocking, and the football matched the ebullient atmosphere.

However, they never made it count. For all their possessions, Arsenal lacked a cutting edge.

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There were chances—big chances.

Jack Wilshere had the best of them, charging on to a through ball from Danny Welbeck. A player of Wilshere’s talent ought to have knocked the ball out of his feet before striking it simply into the corner.

Instead, Wilshere overcomplicated the matter. He has a nasty habit of holding on to the ball for too long, and that momentary hesitation allowed David de Gea to shut down the angle.

Nevertheless, that did not explain why Wilshere’s shot was hit straight at the Spanish goalkeeper. The miss was compounded by the fact that squaring the ball would have given Alexis Sanchez a tap-in.

Wilshere wasn’t alone in his profligacy.

This was hailed as the match in which Welbeck would make his point to Louis van Gaal.

Instead, the Dutchman will feel vindicated in his decision to let the England international join Arsenal. Welbeck headed over a decent chance in the first half, before emulating Wilshere by shooting when he ought to have squared in the second. 

When Arsenal did eventually score, the goal came from a substitute: Olivier Giroud. The Frenchman was only minutes into his return from a fractured leg when he thumped an unstoppable shot in to De Gea’s near post.

Arsene Wenger will hope Giroud's availability will add some much-needed ruthlessness to the Arsenal attack.

None of this is to say that Arsenal’s defensive problems show any sign of disappearing.

In this match, Arsenal managed to do the almost-impossible and allow a goal before their opponent had even mustered a shot on target. In this instance, Kieran Gibbs did the job for them by diverting the ball into his own net.

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

It got worse. Having fallen behind, Arsenal threw caution to the wind.

It was no great surprise when they were then caught out for a second goal: Per Mertesacker is not the sort of central defender who can defend comfortably in a high line. Nacho Monreal, on the other hand, isn’t even a central defender. That combination of personnel and circumstance spelled big trouble.

Arsenal have got problems at both ends of the pitch. We're almost in to December, and this team shows little sign of gelling. The goodwill created by the FA Cup win in May has all but eroded.

With Borussia Dortmund the next visitors to the Emirates Stadium, Arsene Wenger needs to find a solution—fast.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout the 2014-15 season. Follow him on Twitter here.