How Arsenal's Weakness Exposed by Lazio's 1-0 Win Could Threaten Top-Four Hopes

Claudio Lotito's Side Outplayed Arsenal in All Departments

Arsenal's top-four hopes suffered a major blow as they were outplayed and defeated 1-0 by Lazio in a pre-season friendly on Thursday. The Serie A side dominated possession and created the better chances throughout the game, with Ciro Immobile scoring the only goal of the match in the second half.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made several changes to his team from the side that beat Barcelona 2-1 on Saturday, but the Gunners still struggled to create chances against a well-organized Lazio defense. The Italian side was particularly impressive in midfield, where Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Luis Alberto controlled the tempo of the game and created several chances for their teammates.

Arsenal's weakness was exposed in the second half when Lazio took the lead. The Gunners were caught out by a quick counter-attack, and Immobile was able to finish coolly past Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno. Arsenal pushed for an equalizer in the closing stages of the game, but they were unable to break down a resolute Lazio defense.

What Arsenal Can Learn from Their Defeat to Lazio

There are several things that Arsenal can learn from their defeat to Lazio. Firstly, they need to be more clinical in front of goal. The Gunners had several good chances to score in the game, but they were unable to take them. They need to be more ruthless in the final third if they want to challenge for a top-four finish this season.

Secondly, Arsenal need to improve their defensive organization. They were too easily opened up by Lazio's counter-attacks, and they need to be more solid at the back if they want to keep clean sheets.

Finally, Arsenal need to find a way to control the tempo of games. Lazio were able to dictate the pace of the game from the start, and Arsenal were never able to get a foothold in the match. The Gunners need to be more proactive in midfield if they want to win games against top-quality opposition.

Conclusion

Arsenal's defeat to Lazio was a wake-up call for the Gunners. They need to improve in several areas if they want to challenge for a top-four finish this season. The Gunners have a number of talented players, but they need to be more consistent and clinical if they want to achieve their goals.