MIKEL ARTETA, having recovered from coronavirus, has now been struck down with homesickness.
And the Arsenal boss needs to find a cure quickly before it kills his team’s top-four hopes.
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The Spaniard saw his stuttering side slip up on their own patch again as they were thrashed by Aston Villa.
It was the Gunners’ second successive home defeat in the Premier League following their 1-0 loss to Leicester two weeks ago.
Arteta’s men may have dished out Europa League spankings to Dundalk and Molde at the Emirates in between, but he will know it is the Prem which matters most at the moment – and that his men are struggling at home this term.
Even in the two matches they won – 2-1 against both West Ham and Sheffield United – they were well off the pace. The Hammers certainly deserved to leave with all three points.
It means Arsenal will go into the international break 11th in the table with 12 points from their opening eight matches – four points below Southampton in fourth and already six behind leaders Leicester.
Worryingly for Arteta, the League goals have dried up for the Gunners.
It has been a month since they scored a Prem goal from open play.
Alexandre Lacazette has not netted for six matches after heading a glorious chance over the bar.
Willian’s equally poor miss after the break reminded us why the Brazilian was never a regular starter at Chelsea.
And Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looks far less hungrier than he did when he was chasing a contract last term.
In midfield, Arsenal could not cope with the energy and craft of Jack Grealish, John McGinn and Ross Barkley.
Much more of this and there will be calls for him to recall Mesut Ozil in the New Year.
The money-grabbing German, left out of the Gunners’ top-flight squad, could surely not do any worse than this.
The Arsenal boss has plenty to think about as we head into the international break.
He made many positive strides since taking charge last year.
But once again at the Emirates it is a case of one step forward and two back.
