Steve Nicol has told ESPN Arsenal supporters are going crazy at the state of Mikel Arteta’s side and cannot see any positives from their defeat to Brentford ahead of facing Chelsea.
The former Liverpool defender instead feels Arsenal looked the like newly-promoted side in their opening night 2-0 loss last weekend. Goals from Sergi Canos and Christian Norgaard shocking the Gunners and sealing the Bees’ first top-flight win in 74-years.
Now, Arteta must dust his north London outfit down ahead of hosting rivals Chelsea on Sunday. Thomas Tuchel’s side arriving at the Emirates Stadium after beating Crystal Palace 3-0 in their curtain-raiser at Stamford Bridge.
Nicol fears what’s to come from Arsenal against Chelsea after delivering such an apologetic display last time out at Brentford. Claiming he struggles to find any positives from the loss:
“Brentford was always going to be a test, but you talk about failing miserably. I’m interested to see how they bounce back and the question I’m asking is can they bounce back? Number one, they’re playing against Chelsea, so it might not even be in their hands.
“Two, am I confident that all the questions they had after last weekend against Brentford, where they got overrun, they got outfought, they got outplayed. On occasions, it looked like Arsenal were the side that had come up [from the Championship], not Brentford.
“And I come to the conclusion that they’re not very good. I can’t find a positive that they’re going to do against Chelsea. And the fact they’re at home might be even worse, because if they start the game badly, the impression I’m getting right now is Arsenal fans are out for blood. Everybody’s; the players’, the manager’s, the coaching staff, they’re all going crazy.”
Is Nicol right to be concerned for Arsenal against Chelsea?
There will be many in the Arsenal fanbase who share Nicol’s concerns ahead of Chelsea’s visit to north London. Brentford were comfortably the better side throughout the curtain-raiser last week and fully deserved to beat Arteta’s men.
Thomas Frank’s side played with more energy, were more creative and more daring than their established Premier League opposition. They brought life into what would otherwise have been a soulless start to their long-awaited top-flight return.
Only Emile Smith Rowe could return to north London with some pride after forcing a save from David Raya. Now, Arsenal fans will be biting their nails for what could come against Chelsea, with Alexandre Lacazette is out with Covid, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will have a late fitness test after also testing positive and missing the Brentford humbling.
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