Gunners need more firepower

26 August 2016 - 10:45 By Mark Gleeson

It has not taken long for the complaints of last season to resurface and begin to irritate Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger again. A home loss to Liverpool in their opening game of the new Premier League season quicklyset tongues wagging, forcing the Frenchman onto the back foot.It is his transfer policy, or lack thereof, that sees a growing number of the Gunners faithful, who used to view Wenger in messianic terms, now beginning to turn on him.Wenger, clearly annoyed that this debate is being aired again, insisted this week that identifying the right player, rather than a reluctance to reach for the chequebook, is the reason for the lack of transfer activity at Arsenal.But with some long-term injuries he needs reinforcements in defence and, like everyone else, could also do with another striker.The only thing to silence this debate, at least for now, would be a victory when Arsenal are away to Watford tomorrow. Ordinarily, it would be a routine assignment, but Arsenal's confidence and swagger in clashes of this type long look to have been tempered.The unfashionable Hornets have been active in the market over the past week, perhaps showing Wenger the way. The arrival of French defender Younès Kaboul and Argentine midfielder Roberto Pereyra came too late for last weekend's clash at home to Chelsea but they, plus Dutch full-back Daryl Janmaat, could play tomorrow.The game is M5 in the weekend'sx top Soccer 6 pool. Let's look at the other matches:M1 Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth: Palace and Bournemouth have both suffered defeats in their opening two matches of the new Premier League season. Bournemouth have scored a goal but Palace, who have signed Christian Benteke, have yet to find the net.M2 Everton v Stoke City: Only one of the past six matches between these two sides has delivered a home winner. They meet for the 100th time in this clash, with the win count 38-28 in favour of Everton.M3 Leicester City v Swansea City: Leicester have won the last three meetings between the two clubs and scored nine goals without reply in the process. But the champions are still looking for their first success of the new campaign.M4 Southampton v Sunderland: Southampton drew at home with Watford in their first game of the season for their only league point to date. Sunderland, with David Moyes arriving belatedly as new manager, are still searching for the first point.M6 Hull City v Manchester United: Crisis-ridden Hull have proven that off-field problems do not necessarily have to have an impact on the turf and surprised by winning their opening pair of clashes. United will have viewed this match before the start as one of a trio of moderate tests at the start of Jose Mourinho's reign...

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