Arsenal FC: 5 Main Reasons Behind the Team's Meltdown

The summer transfer window is now over and the hysteria that has been whipped up in the last couple of weeks seems to be coming to an end for now. I thought this would be the best time to really analyze the issues causing Arsenal's trophy-less run which has stretched to six seasons. It must be said though, if there were a trophy for playing the best football in England, they would have won it multiple times. 

Investment Policy

The club has a reluctance to spend money. Economically, Arsenal is a very well run team. They've made plenty of money from selling some of their stars such as Thierry Henry for £16 million and more recently Cesc Fabregas for a potential £35 million. Therefore, money isn't the issue.

Arsene has admitted that the transfer market is very over-priced now. This may be true but sometimes you have to pay more than the going rate for the greater good and long-term future. Times have changed and the money exchanging hands is nothing short of absurd but that is how it is and Wenger has refused to accept this.

Refusing to pay a little extra to the relatively small sum he offered for Mark Schwarzer or the £6 million offer for Gary Cahill are many examples of being priced-out of a market even though they have the money. However, the policy is very paradoxical as, the club were ready to spend £15 million on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has great potential but untried and tested at the elite level. 

Better and More Intense Competition

In recent years, the Premier League has become a lot more competitive. The title challengers no longer have "easy" games. The so-called lesser teams are more confident and the gap has dramatically reduced between them and the top. This has made the season become a lot more tricky and there are plenty more difficulties.

It has caused not just quality but depth of the team to become increasingly more important. Now, you look at both Manchester clubs and the amount of talent they have is astounding. They both nearly have two full solid teams. Injuries and suspensions are part every team's season.

Time and time again that has been the excuse of Arsenal management. The real question is why hasn't it been addressed? Especially, as it has caused the failings of multiple seasons, it can only be best described as naivety and at worst, foolishness.   

Luck

Every winning side has an element of this and Arsenal players must have walked under many ladders while looking at broken mirrors. It can't be denied that it seems that Arsenal haven't had the rub of the green for some time.

The Carling Cup final showed this when Wojciech Szczesny spilt the ball into the path of Martins. Also, they seem cursed by injuries to key players. They are frequently for long spells that has caused disruption to their season and led them off the trophy path. 

Lack of Experience

You may be surprised by my choice of picture, but it'll make sense to you soon.

I'm not a believer that age gives you an edge in life. However, I believe it's your experience that's most important. Quality and quantity. In the Arsenal squad, how many players of the last few seasons played a significant role in winning major competitions?

I'm not sure if there are many let alone a few. An Arsenal team that in the past has won plenty of silverware didn't retain enough past talent. Putting old glorious figures like Tony Adams as backroom staff would have helped greatly. They should have kept a few old players from past Arsenal teams in the playing squad just because of their experience of winning.

For example, Manchester United kept Giggs, Scholes and Neville. Yes, they were not as good as they used to be but their experience is priceless to the squad. This lack of balance in the Arsenal squad is what I believe is the biggest problem.

It's as if Arsene started with a blank canvas, which is admirable, but very difficult in today's modern game. His players, who have plenty of potential don't have people to look up to and have to start performing at an elite level too quickly. That lack of winning attitude has been detrimental. It has been the reason of the "x-rated" periods where they would fall out of contention in every competition in quick succession.  

Pressure

There is unbelievable pressure for the club to succeed now. Fan's patience is running low. Media and pundits leap upon every bad result as a crisis. This doesn't help the team's cause and must be an unwelcome distraction for all at the club. New players like Arteta, have no honeymoon period and expectations are high. 

Conclusion

All these problems aren't easily rectifiable. However, with careful planning and not making the same mistakes of the past they need to overcome. He may have his doubters but I believe Arsene Wenger is the right man for the job. He has to start accepting some of his philosophies don't work and evolve with the changing times of football.