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Arsenal’s 22-match unbeaten run was brought to a crashing halt by Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium on Monday afternoon. The struggling Saints produced a battling, committed display to overcome the Gunners by a 3-2 scoreline on the south coast.

It meant victory for Ralph Hasenhuttl in his first home game in charge of Southampton. For Arsenal’s own new manager, Unai Emery, though, it meant the end of an unbeaten run in all competitions stretching back to the defeat at Stamford Bridge in only the Spaniard’s second game in charge.

This Premier League setback was then followed by a defeat in the Carabao Cup quarter-final tie with Tottenham Hotspur. The victory marked only Spurs’ second ever triumph at the Emirates Stadium.

The aforementioned unbeaten run saw the Gunners’ fanbase galvanised and in high spirits, getting behind their team. However, the positive results also masked plenty of deficiencies in the north London outfit’s squad, and also somewhat disguised the scale of the task Emery faces in taking over from the long-serving Arsene Wenger. 

With all the focus and attention going into every match being directed at the unbeaten run, and with the growing obsession amongst the fanbase and media with keeping the streak going, other issues were somewhat swept under the carpet. Perhaps, it can even be suggested, that going so long without defeat allowed some complacency to set in amongst the Arsenal ranks.

Playmaker FC believes Arsenal fans won’t have to wait long to see Unai Emery’s long-term ambitions for the club come to fruition. Watch the video below to find out why…

To consider this Arsenal side anywhere near the finished article though would be a mistake, and Emery will be aware of that. There are still many areas in which the Gunners must improve.

At the back, Arsenal leave much to be desired. Tactically, Emery is yet to settle upon a system and configuration that gives his side solidity on anything like a consistent basis. The flitting between four-at-the-back and three-at-the-back formations is evidence that the Gunners’ rearguard remains a work in progress. The recent, serious injury to Rob Holding, who had played his way into a regular starting role, likely sets this project back further.

It is not only a tactical issue Emery must overcome though, but also one of personnel. Club-captain Laurent Koscielny is ageing, and looks well short of the required standard since returning from a long injury lay-off. Likewise, at 34 and 32-years-old respectively, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Nacho Monreal must be replaced sooner rather than later. That’s without noting that Shkodran Mustafi’s erratic defending regularly makes him a liability at the back for Arsenal.

These defensive frailties would be enough to contend with if Emery didn’t have big questions to answer elsewhere too. The impending departure of Aaron Ramsey, coupled with the enigmatic goings on concerning Mesut Ozil and his regular absences, means that Emery needs to identify or acquire new creative outlets in his squad soon.

Add to this a fanbase only recently reconciled following years of deep division, a new and decidedly unpopular 100% owner who does not promise any influxes of investment, and it becomes clear that Emery has a huge job ahead of him in getting this club back to competing for major honours.

For that reason alone, the former PSG boss may be relieved to have the unbeaten run behind him. Focus can now return, day in, day out, to addressing the problems in the squad, working on them on the training ground, and taking incremental steps forward on what is surely a long road ahead.

There were several games in the course of the undefeated streak that Arsenal were extremely fortunate to emerge from without defeat. The results made up for the lacklustre performances, and, in fact, made the Gunners look like a more complete, cohesive outfit than they actually are. This is dangerous, as it can raise expectation levels beyond where they ought to be at this stage in Emery’s reign.

Without any unbeaten run to maintain though, Emery can now get on with the job, taking the rough with the smooth as it comes.