Are Arsenal serious contenders for relegation this season?

Arsenal have only managed to pick up 14 points from 13 games in the Premier League so far this season, their worst start to a season in 46 years.

But could the Gunners seriously be in a relegation battle?

With no wins in their last six games, Arsenal are looking at one of the worst ever Premier League starts in their history. The last time they had a start this poor in the league, the year was 1975 and they failed to register a win in the first 12 games of the season. That year they went on to finish 16^th.

One reason for their woeful form is captain Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang’s performances so far this campaign. The Gabonese forward has only managed three league goals and is still the club’s top league goalscorer ahead of centre-back Gabriel.

Aubameyang has been almost ghostlike this season and has struggled to make an impact in any position, even though manager Mikel Arteta has deployed him down the middle, on the right and on the left. It seems that after 13 games Arteta still hasn’t decided where the Gabonese forward fits best.

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Disciplinary issues have been a real problem for the Gunners so far this season as well, with three red cards in their last five league games.

Nicolas Pepe and Granit Xhaka were both shown straight reds for violent conduct in respective games against Leeds and Burnley, two occasions which have left fans and Arteta questioning the professionalism of the players.

It’s not all bad for Arsenal however as new signings Thomas Partey and Gabriel continue to impress. Unfortunately for Partey, the Ghanian’s knock picked up against Tottenham is likely to rule him out of the Christmas period.

Meanwhile, Gabriel has been awarded Arsenal’s Player of the Month award for September, October and November and has been a shining light in an otherwise bleak Arsenal defence.

Arsenal fans will have taken hope out of technical director Edu’s insistence on recruitment stating that Arsenal “need a player with creativity in the middle, we don’t have that in the squad right now”.

The former invincible made his intentions of signing a creative midfielder clear this week in a fan forum and explained that it is a priority for the January transfer window. Houssem Aouar continues to be the linked name to the club, Arsenal’s lack of Champions League football a potential stumbling block however.

One creative midfielder already at the club is Mesut Özil. The playmaker failed to be registered for Arsenal’s Premier League squad but with Arteta’s team craving a final product, the Spaniard may have to swallow his pride and recall the German World Cup winner.

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The Gunners will look to end their winless streak this weekend in a tough test against a revitalised Everton side. Despite it only being December, the fixture is a must win game from both the team and managers perspective, as Mikel Arteta’s job could be on the line if another disappointing performance is produced.

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