Arsenal have had an underwhelming start to the season, leading to question marks around Mikel Arteta’s biggest issues, but Graeme Souness and Tony Adams think they know the main concern
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Mikel Arteta hails Arsenal fans ahead of north London derby
Graeme Souness and Tony Adams appeared to be in agreement about Arsenal ‘s biggest concern this season.
The Gunners endured a nightmare start to the season and were rock bottom of the Premier League after three matches.
Back-to-back league wins prior to Sunday’s derby have lifted spirits somewhat around the club.
But after a summer of heavy spending, the pressure is firmly on Mikel Arteta to continue to deliver results.
There have been plenty of question marks over the performances of players on the more senior players at the club, in particular strike partners Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.
And Adams pointed out that leaving the bulk of the heavy lifting in the side to the younger players like Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe was a worrying sign.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s derby, Adams told Sky Sports: “It’s a settled back four and we’re passing this lot [Spurs] as we go and they’re going to end up bottom, perfect.
“It looks like there’s a little bit of a change although it was Burnley and Norwich they set their stall out, I’m going to be looking at the defence today hopefully White and Gabriel form a great partnership.”
When asked if he saw brighter times ahead, Adams replied: “[It is a] Bit too early to judge when we were bottom and stuff with two brilliant teams, Chelsea come here completely dominate the game, I think you’re going to have to give it a bit more time.
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“My issue is the kids are our best players at this moment, Saka and Smith-Rowe they’re not supposed to lead, we need some good experienced players and players that stay fit.
“Partey’s come into the team, he’s been inured a long time now, we need some leaders in the team. Hopefully some growth.
“I want Arteta to stay with this group, to stop rotating there’s been so many changes and so many changes of system. Stick with this back four now and goalkeeper and go with it, run with it.”
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Former Liverpool and Scotland ace Souness was in agreement about the lack of leaders in the side because of the policy to sign young players.
” Arsenal are a big worry for me,” he explained. “They’re buying young players, you introduce young players into the team it’s organised, it’s winning, it’s playing with a bit of confidence.
“Tony alluded to it, they’re brining young guys in and wanting them to be main men, that’s never good.
“It concerns me, was there plan at the start of the season the way we can take this club forward is buy young players and they might be players in two, three years.
“This club won’t stand for that, the manager won’t stay here for a two-year wait. Time is not your friend when you’re a manager and both of these managers find themselves under pressure, five games in, these are big football clubs, these two teams should be at the higher end of the Premier League they shouldn’t be where they are, down near the bottom.”
