Arsenal’s Invincibles have already proven why fans shouldn’t care at all about Mikel Arteta’s pre-season struggles

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Arsenal’s pre-season campaign hasn’t exactly gone to plan so far.

Mikel Arteta’s side started brightly with two victories against AC Milan and Newcastle with plenty of positives arising – most notably the performances of Max Dowman and new signing Martin Zubimendi.

However, a defeat in the North London Derby in the final game of the Asia tour was followed by Arsenal’s 3-2 defeat to Villarreal at the Emirates Stadium.

Arteta was annoyed with his side’s defensive display against the Spanish outfit and there is plenty to work on before their final friendly against Athletic Bilbao.

However, Arsene Wenger’s famous Invincible side are proof that fans shouldn’t read too much into pre-season results.

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Arsenal’s Invincible side struggled in pre-season in 2003

Arsenal’s Premier League title-winning side of the 2003-04 season goes down as perhaps the greatest side of all time in English domestic football.

Wenger’s side that boasted the likes of Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp went the entire league campaign unbeaten – 26 wins and 12 draws.

Arteta’s current side are hoping to become the first Arsenal side since that team to lift the Premier League crown and can take heart from the fact that the Gunners pre-season in 2003 was far from ideal.

Wenger’s team played nine pre-season fixtures and won less than half of those matches, including a defeat against Peterborough United and a draw with Belgian side Beveren.

Arteta’s team still have the opportunity against Bilbao to build some momentum heading into the opening fixture against Manchester United.

However, win at Old Trafford and all memories of an indifferent pre-season campaign fade into the distance. Three points on the opening day is all that matters.

Where Arsenal can improve before the start of the Premier League campaign

It is obvious that the likes of Eberechi Eze and Rodrygo would improve Arsenal going forward, however, Arteta needs to think about ways he can improve his current squad in case those transfers do not materialise.

Everything in an attacking sense seems too rigid at the moment. There is no flair, no inventiveness, the Gunners have become too predictable to play against.

Players need to move the ball quicker and with Viktor Gyokeres up front, a more direct approach may be needed in terms of getting the ball from back to front and in behind defences.

Defensively, Arsenal were poor against Villarreal and although that is an area they are usually sound in, Arteta will want to remind his players to get tighter to opponents and not allow them time to do what they want with the ball.

Improving those two things against Bilbao will see the Gunners improve their performance and hopefully earn a positive result before the big one the following weekend.