The Arsenal defense was terrible all season
The Arsenal defense was a mistake waiting to happen throughout the campaign. We’ve already touched on the number of goals conceded and the lack of clean sheets. What perhaps was the biggest problem all year was the decision-making by individual players.
Shkodran Mustafi became the poster boy for the Gunners’ defensive frailties. Even stalwart Laurent Koscielny was vulnerable to mistakes.
When Petr Cech saved a penalty from Watford’s Troy Deeney in March the crowd went nuts. It was partially because Deeney was forced to eat crow for disrespecting Arsenal. However, a large portion of the fans were cheering ironically because it was the only penalty save the keeper had made in his time as the Gunners’ keeper.
Whoever is brought in to manage the team, the defensive side of Arsenal’s game must be improved.