Arsenal have endured a difficult start to the season, losing to Stoke City and Liverpool to leave the Gunners with just three points from their opening three matches. On top of this, Arsene Wenger’s side are being widely criticised for a shambolic end to the transfer window.

A sale of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was approved to Liverpool and Alexis Sanchez was also on course for a lucrative move to Manchester City. However, Arsenal pulled the plug due to their inability to land a replacement- with Monaco ace Thomas Lemar snubbing a move to North London.

That means Alexis, who has made it quite clear he wants to leave the Emirates Stadium, will remain in the squad for the season ahead and questions are certain to be asked about his commitment as he’s likely to leave on a free transfer next summer.

The same is also the case for Mesut Ozil, another player who has less than a year to run on his current deal, and it leaves Arsenal in dangerous waters. With fan anger already on the rise, the Gunners need a strong response in October.

Arsenal host Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium after the international break, a game they’ll be expected to win, before hosting Koln in the Europa League, travelling to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea, hosting Doncaster and West Brom before finishing the month with a trip to Belarus in Europe.

The Gunners will be expected to win the majority of those games, and provide a better performance in the London derby with Chelsea, but the clashes certainly won’t be easy- as Bournemouth will eye a response after losing all three of their matches so far, whilst West Brom are currently unbeaten.

October should be an easier month for Arsenal but there’s a risk they may find themselves out of the running by the time those fixtures come around and the season could be effectively ended as early as November, where the Gunners face the likes of Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.

Major improvements are needed by the Gunners and Arsene Wenger needs to settle on a first-team XI and a tactical line-up that utilises the best from new recruits Alexandre Lacazette and Sead Kolasinac, both of haven’t had the best of chances so far.