MORNING, ARSENAL FANS
The Gunners have been under sustained fire since Saturday’s “powder-puff” 1-0 loss at Aston Villa.
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand claimed Mikel Arteta’s men “just didn’t turn up” as they slumped to a second straight Premier League defeat.
Ferdy blamed a dip in form from Arsenal’s attackers and told BT Sport: “They didn’t have that cutting edge… Powder-puff.”
Ex-Gunners frontman Ian Wright went further, singling out Nicolas Pepe and Alexandre Lacazette.
Wrightyt told Match of the Day: “I just thought that the movement and some of the forward play wasn’t very good.”
But former Chelsea targetman Tony Cascarino focused on lame displays from the bench of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Willian.
He said on talkSPORT: “The biggest disappointment for Arsenal is when you see two players that come on, who have been quality…
“Willian was poor, he kept giving away the ball and Aubameyang….I didn’t even know he’d really come on.”
Meanwhile, Arteta is waiting anxiously on midfielder Thomas Partey’s fitness.
The Spaniard said: “He had a muscular injury so we had to take him off.
“We will see the extent of the injury. He wasn’t feeling well enough to continue playing.”
That problem aside, Partey is delighted with the extra freedom he has under Arteta.
He said: “You have time to be able to do whatever you want and this is amazing.”