Six games into the Premier League, Arsenal round out the top four with 10 points,six adrift of first-place Chelsea. With the impending clash with the leagueleaders set to take place on Sunday, the Gunners unbeaten run will be put to thetest. While Wenger and his men have yet to lose a game in the league, their form isstill nothing to write home about.Following the 1-1 draw in the north London derby, Wenger declared his frustration athaving dropped two more points, and was noticeably deflated when discussing theprobability that he would have to do without Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey and JackWilshere in the midweek UEFA Champions League encounter with Galatasaray.On one hand, its difficult to fathom the idea that being unbeaten in one of the mostdemanding leagues in the world through six games can trigger dissatisfaction.Teams would kill to be in that position.On the other hand, and in Arsenals case, itsperhaps justifiable considering the points theyve already squandered.Whether itsOlivier Giroud scoring a last-gasp goal to steal a point at Everton or conceding a lateMartin Demichelis header on another set piece, thats four points dropped in thosetwo games alone. It may be too soon, but dont call me crazy to be this critical. Comenext May, the Barclays Premier League table won't lie.When trying to dissect Arsenal, we have to consider how far theyve come sinceeven the end of last season. There isnt too much cause for alarm just yet, but timeand time again it seems as if most of the Gunners problems are preventable.Preventable, but also a recurring dilemma.Take Tottenhams goal, for example, in last weekend's draw.In the buildup to the goal, opposing goalkeepers Hugo Lloris and Wojciech Szczesny emerged with the ballin their hands in somewhat similar fashion. With Danny Welbeck, Mesut Ozil andSanti Cazorla cutting out the options for Spurs to play out of the back, Lloris was waryof this and opted to punt the ball.On the other end, Szczesny comfortably collectedChristian Eriksons tame free-kick just before and appeared to have the same idea ashe sprinted to the edge of his area looking to perhaps catch Spurs on the break, butretreated instead.At the time, I dont think the Arsenal back line would have been bothered if Szczesnywent long to find Welbeck. You could say that Kieran Gibbs, who was too far upthe pitch when Mathieu Flamini was caught in possession, was out of position, buthe also saw the danger of Mauricio Pochettinos high-press system. Based on hispositioning, he would have rather preferred the rest of Arsenals back line to clearits line.Instead, Szczesny rolled the ball out to Calum Chambers, who passed to PerMertesacker, who then found Flamini, who was squeezed by Christian Eriksen.To be fair, had Arteta been in the same position, I dont doubt that he would havelost the ball as well. Theres been so much talk of the lack of power and punch inArsenals defensive midfield position, but, beginning from Szczesnys ball out toChambers and Mertesackers pass to Flamini, Im not convinced that playing out ofthe back was the right option in this scenario. It cost Arsenal a goal, a gratuitous oneat that, and ultimately led to the Gunners having to chase the game.So while I scrutinize this moment in the game, I revert back to my original query.How far has Arsenal come'Some would say the activity in the transfer windowstill leaves the team shorn of defensive alternatives, now having to cope with theloss of full-back Mathieu Debuchy to injury. If you cast transfers aside and the debate about whetheror not Wenger should permanently situate Ozil in his familiar role as a traditionalNo. 10, there is a collective and onerous theme running through this squad.I have noproblem with that, as Ozil cant give you a proper 90 minutes elsewhere and still needsprotection. But how do you protect a player with the likes of Ramsey and Wilshere inthe vicinity when they want to do exactly what Ozil does' Arteta is what he is andwill not get better. I think we all know that.Now, with the prospect of a Champions League game against Galatasaray, we know thatRamsey, Wilshere and Arteta are injured once again: A theme that Arsene Wengerwas going to get to the bottom of based on all the injuries last season. I am nota doctor, but I do play one on TV. I will just look at simple logic.When you rattleoff all the technical and diminutive players in the squad that base their game onquickness and fast-twitch muscles and then combine that with the physical and fast-pacednature of the Premier League, perhaps you will understand whats at play here.A coupleof quick suggestions: William Carvalho had a massive game against Porto on theweekend, even though by his own admission he has not found the perfect form yet.The protection he would have given Arsenal, had Wenger signed him over the summer, is immeasurable. I thought thatWelbeck was a good buy but not exactly what was needed.A club like Arsenal needs tobe deeper in that position, and while I am in the Portuguese buying spree I wouldsuggest that Arsenal dont haggle and pay the asking price for Jackson Martinez ashe possesses all the attributes that a lone striker needs to have. All. Not to mentionthat I think that Mr. Wenger knows that and would want him.Please do not remindme in the comments that Alexis Sanchez can play there as well. He is a wide player that can sometimes play there in emergency only, but youalready now that.Arsenal's other issues are well known but strengthening these two areas would help immediately.For years, when the generation of the Invincibles dominated the Premier League,ruthlessness ran through the blood and veins of players like Patrick Vieira, MartinKeown and Tony Adams, to name a few. Space on the pitch was hard to come bywith players of this caliber bearing down on you. They never gave their opponents an inch.More often than not, Arsenal is the favorite to win in almost any Premier Leaguematch. But there is a delicate, yet patent difference between winning respectablyand winning mercilessly. The Arsenal I once knew never would have stood for thelatter, allowing teams to find their way into a match.Perhaps one of the most frustrating parts of Arsenal for some of you is the fact thatthey have a way of bouncing back when they are on the brink. Usually we talk about Arsenal finishing in the top four and getting out of the group stages in the Champions League. But after the loss to Dortmund, in comes one of those matches that Arsenal almost must win.At their best, the Gunners are wonderful to watch, but you never know what you are going to get. The listof injuries is long already and on paper this is a Galatasaray team that is capableof causing a surprise. If Arsenal win, the depth of the team will be hailed to theheavens. The trouble is that Arsenal are deep in all the wrong places.If this article sounds familiar to you, dont fret. It is worth reminding some of thesame themes until people listen.Read more World Football news on BleacherReport.com
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