It is fair to say that this season has been challenging so far for Arsenal.
The draw with Brighton on Saturday summed up how their season is going
Start well and take the lead in a game before a selection or injury problem causes Mikel Arteta an issue.
This time it was that Ethan Nwaneri, who scored the opening goal in the game and had come into the side to replace Bukayo Saka the match before, had to come off with a “muscular issue”.
Around this time last season, Arteta was able to take his side to a winter training camp in Dubai to work on issues, but does not have theatluxury this time.
Arsenal have nine games this month in every competition they are involved in. Next up they have Newcastle in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg before playing Manchester United in the FA Cup on Sunday.
Arteta started the match at Brighton without captain Martin Odegaard, who had not been able to train because of illness, Kai Havertz, who was not well enough to be in the squad, and Saka, who is out with a lengthy hamstring injury. Gabriel Martinelli was only fit enough to be on the bench.
That is Arsenal’s best front four and the lack of chances the Gunners created showed how much they missed them.
It is a quick turnaround between matches throughout this month so Arteta faces a challenge to get his side fit and firing if they are to stay competing for trophies on all fronts.