Arsenal may not be firing on all cylinders like the last two seasons – but it is ludicrous to suggest they’re now a boring and uninspiring team.
That’s the view of Liverpool cult hero Danny Murphy, who has defended the Gunners from their critics ahead of Sunday’s crunch clash with the Reds.
Arsenal welcome Liverpool to the Emirates this weekend in a Premier League blockbuster clashGetty
Mikel Arteta‘s men sit third in the table – four points behind Arne Slot’s rampant side – having won five out of their opening eight fixtures.
Following the October international break, Bournemouth inflicted Arsenal‘s first defeat of the season, before the north Londoners laboured to a 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.
And their preparations to face Liverpool have been rocked by the fact that they could be without five key players in Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori.
This could see Arteta forced into reshuffling both his defence and midfield against a Liverpool side that have won 11 out of 12 fixtures this term.
Arsenal have already had to deal a host of key absentees this campaign which has hindered their attacking ability, while red cards picked up by Declan Rice, Leandro Trossard and Saliba have forced them into a more defensive approach – resulting in the return of ‘boring, boring Arsenal’ cries.
It’s a view that has been slammed by talkSPORT pundit Murphy, who has highlighted why they may have appeared to be less easing on the eye so far this season – despite having just three points less at this stage compared to last year.
Asked by Jim White whether it’s a ‘functional’ Arsenal at present, Murphy said: “No, it’s just a bit of lazy analysis from whoever is talking about that, they scored 91 goals last season, that was only beaten by Man City [96].
“They were free-flowing and scored loads of goals in loads of games and looked a really creative, good side.
“The last two games where there’s been a bit of lethargy, a bit of dullness if you like, they haven’t had Odegaard for a while who is their main creator.
“And Saka as well, whose goals and assists are always top [of the charts] for Arsenal, he’s been missing games.
The Gunners will trail Liverpool by seven points should they lose on SundayGetty
Arsenal have been rocked by key injuries and ill-discipline from their opening eight top-flight matches
“And you also have to factor in, the three games they’ve had the sendings offs, they’ve had to defend, they can’t be free-flowing and attacking.
“They’ll score plenty of goals and win lots of games, I’ve got no doubts about that, he [Arteta] hasn’t changed the style from last season, they’ve just had to adapt because certain games they’ve lost a man.
“And if you lose your two most creative players in the final third, you aren’t going to be as good.
“The reality is when Man City spent half a season without [Erling] Haaland and [Kevin] De Bruyne, they still win the league, and that’s what everybody else is competing with.
“Because when Haaland doesn’t play for three months, they still win every game, when De Bruyne is missing for half a season, they put Bernardo Silva in, [Ilkay] Gundogan in, [Phil] Foden in that position, whoever, and they keep producing.
“Foden became their man man last season because De Bruyne wasn’t there, Arsenal need someone to step up, and I’m not sure – if Odegaard and Saka are out for too long – then there might be a problem.”
Meanwhile ex-Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan declared an Arsenal victory over Liverpool with their depleted squad would send a major warning to their top-flight rivals.
He remarked: “People will look at this Arsenal game on the weekend as potentially a statement game, Liverpool beating Chelsea, was that a statement game?
“Because ultimately the accusations were that Liverpool haven’t beaten anybody yet in this run of form that they’re on is a false representation of where they might be if they play the best sides.
“Well look, Arsenal are playing Liverpool on Sunday, if Liverpool were to go to Arsenal and turn them over, I think there’s a challenge for Arsenal in the season coming forward, because I think it will be a statement victory.
“They’re grinding their way through this Champions League, the result against PSG was a good result, they’ve drawn with Atalanta 0-0 and they struggled past Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0.
Five key players could be ruled out for the clash with Slot’s rampant Liverpool
“But it doesn’t really matter does it? They’re getting results, they’re getting outcomes.”
Murphy then conceded that should Arsenal be missing their five key players, Liverpool would have the edge, while Stuart Pearce believes an Arsenal loss could see them already out of the title race.
Speaking on Drive, Pearce was asked by co-host Andy Goldstein whether it’s too soon to argue whether an Arsenal defeat would put an end to their hopes.
To which he stated: “No, I think it’s a pertinent question when you consider what City are doing, and getting a late winner at Wolverhampton and getting over the line when you thought they might drop points, they found a way with ten seconds to go to win the game.
“And I think City have got Brentford [Southampton] at home on the weekend, so they’ll fancy their chances of getting three points where their two rivals are playing each other, so someone’s got to drop points.
“I don’t think against City you can afford to drop too many points, I tipped Arsenal to win the league at the start of the year, I think there’s a long way to go still.”
But the England icon ultimately conceded: “They’ve got the right man in charge at the football club, so where’s the panic? You can’t help the injuries.”
Arsenal fans love a meltdown, and with clashes against Newcastle and Chelsea following Liverpool, Arteta knows defeat to the Reds will only intensify the unjust negativity surrounding the club.
This is how the table looks heading into the ninth round of Premier League fixtures
