The race for the last Champions League position in the Premier League was blown wide open after Crystal Palace beat Arsenal on Monday.
The 3 – 0 defeat was a major setback for Arsenal who still have the advantage, albeit only just. It means Tottenham move ahead of them into 4th place following their 5 – 1 win over Newcastle.
Arsenal still have a game in hand on Spurs, but must go to White Hart Lane in what is now a must win game.
As well as that, Arsenal still have to play Manchester United at home and West Ham away.
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What will concern Mikel Arteta more than the defeat is that his squad is starting to look paper-thin. Kieran Tierney was absent from the squad and was replaced by Nuno Tavarez.
Tavarez did not return for the second half for a second consecutive game. In his last appearance, the F.A Cup defeat to Nottingham Forest in January, he was substituted after 27 minutes.
It is clear Mikel Arteta does not trust Tavarez and it gives him a massive problem at left back. If Tavarez isn’t selected, Granit Xhaka will be moved to left back.
That is a prospect that frightens Arsenal fans. Granit Xhaka deputizing at left back is something they are all too familiar with from last season. While Xhaka is a model professional, capable of filling in without too much fuss, Arsenal’s left hand side loses momentum without Tierney.
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As well as that, Thomas Partey went off injured, meaning Xhaka is actually the only experienced center midfielder left. Either Arteta is going to have to find a way to make it work with Tavarez, or play an inexperienced midfield for the rest of the season.
Arsenal had built some genuine momentum with their first 11 all fit. Now that it has been disrupted, Mikel Arteta has a big test ahead to find new solutions.
