1) Bring in a world-class holding midfielder

“I’m happy with the signings but we still need a physical presence with prodigious ability like Vieira or Petit.”
Arsène Wenger

Arsène Wenger’s tactical tweak to 4-1-4-1 has been motivated, in part, by the desire to accommodate as many of his attacking midfield talents as possible. And there are many of them. But it has also served, on occasion, to isolate the holding midfielder and to expose him for his lack of pace. Neither Mathieu Flamini nor Mikel Arteta are noted for their quickness.

Arteta suffered against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, although it is doubtful whether Flamini, who missed out with a thigh injury and ended up watching the game from the press box because he was not allowed on the bench, would have fared much better.

Arteta, like so many Arsenal players, did not help himself by making basic errors to lose possession and he had only just returned from an injury of his own. But he was punished severely, as Dortmund swarmed forward in energetic fashion. Against the very best teams, particularly away from home, the fear lingers that Arsenal might need a better player with greater presence in this position in the formation.

• Injuries raise questions over Wenger’s transfer policy

2) Tighten up at the back

Arsenal’s defensive season so far
5 games, 8 goals conceded, 0 clean sheets

Wenger has always been an attacking coach and it feels faintly churlish to quibble about his desire to commit bodies forward in the pursuit of goals and entertainment. A big part of his gameplan has been to push the full-backs high up the field when his team have the ball. It speeds the transitions and helps to stretch the opposition. But the flip-side is Arsenal leave big spaces on the sides, they are vulnerable to the quick counter and the centre-backs can be exposed.

Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny actually snuffed out a number of Dortmund attacks in the first-half but those are not the moments that have stuck in the memory. The second half became a siege after the centre-halves were carved open by a routine ball forward for the second goal and it was all so ragged and panicky – a situation not helped throughout by Arsenal’s carelessness in possession – something which invited Dortmund on to them.

Wenger has had cause to question the focus of his defenders, which he did after the late concession against Manchester City on Saturday and the subsequent flurry of chances for the champions, which might have seen Arsenal beaten. It is a huge irritation that Wenger’s team have conceded a headed goal in each of their Premier League fixtures so far.

3) Wenger must get Mesut Özil back on form

“At least Mesut Özil was able to record an assist but still, it didn’t happen on the pitch but on the bench – as Özil lent team-mate Lukas Podolski his shin pads.”
German newspaper Die Welt

The record signing is a luxurious player and who does not like luxuries? He is capable of touches that light up matches and remind everybody why they love football. But after his explosive start at Arsenal, the feeling has taken hold that his rider is a little overbearing. He would like a roving No10’s brief in the middle of the field, free of tracking back responsibilities and, ideally, against opponents who do not press too hard. Even for an A-lister, it is asking a lot.

Wenger has tried Özil off the flank, granting him the freedom to come inside when Arsenal have the ball. After all, he was effective enough for Germany in wide areas to retain his starting place throughout their successful World Cup campaign. But it is not working for him right now and the fans’ patience is wearing thin. Perhaps he feels scrambled by the defensive demands, even if he hardly seems to embrace them.

His confidence is low and he looks to be unhappy. Wenger’s new formation has no room for a No10 and Özil is further burdened by his lack of a single assist or goal so far this season. His place is in jeopardy.

Özil’s first 10 Arsenal games

3 goals, 5 assists, 31 chances created

Özil’s last 10 Arsenal games

2 goals, 2 assists, 21 chances created

4) Wasteful Danny Welbeck needs to find the target

25% – Shot accuracy in two games for Arsenal
55% – Shot accuracy in 30 games for Manchester United last season

First, the good bits. The striker, signed from Manchester United on deadline day, has looked typically athletic, his endeavour has been unstinting and he has made the runs to get into dangerous spaces. The last point has ben the best bit. Now the ‘But.’ He has failed to finish.

One on one with Joe Hart after 12 minutes of his debut against Manchester City, he seemed to do everything right in relation to the high-difficulty chipped finish and he was unlucky to see the ball come back off the post. The bottom line though was he missed the target – the cardinal sin of the centre-forward. Against Dortmund, with the game lop-sided but still 0-0, he once again missed when one on one, dragging low and beyond the far post. He had four efforts in all and he did not hit the target once.

Welbeck has never appeared to be the most instinctive of finishers and it is doubtful whether that instinct can be instilled on the training ground. It can merely be encouraged, in terms of getting him into the right areas. These remain early days but Welbeck will not be judged on his work rate.

• Wenger urges fans to be patient with Welbeck

5) Does Aaron Ramsey need a break?

Ramsey has played the most out of any Arsenal outfield player this season, racking up 502 minutes in total, and is the only player to start and finish all four of their Premier League games.

The midfielder turned his ankle while playing for Wales on Andorra’s much-criticised 3G pitch on Tuesday of last week and he was below par against City and Dortmund. Ramsey had treatment last Thursday, trained on Friday and played on Saturday. There was then precious little breathing space before he was back on the pitch against Dortmund. The schedule is remorseless and it has no sympathy for players who are determined to play through the discomfort of niggles.

The problems inevitability become worse rather than better and that has to be a concern with a player like Ramsey, whose career has been pockmarked by injuries. Even the season of his life last time out was blotted by a three-month lay-off with thigh trouble – an injury that Wenger said, initially, did not look serious. Ramsey’s commitment is admirable but he knows he is enduring a lull, and he went public with a Twitter apology for the Dortmund shambles. Part of the problem on a personal level for him is he has set himself such high standards from last season.