Arsenal are facing a winter of discontent, on and off the pitch

A toxic mixture of issues is causing discord at the club, writes Gerry Cox at the Emirates Stadium

All is not well at Arsenal, on and off the pitch. Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Wolves was their third successive game in the past week when they have taken the lead but failed to win. Granit Xhaka was absent after last week’s controversial outburst, Mesut Ozil was restored for only his second league game of the season, but still there was booing from home supporters on the final whistle and calls for manager Unai Emery to go.

Here are the issues that threaten to cause another winter of discontent at the club: Wolves, he brought back Ozil but deployed him wide on the right, with Lucas Torreira at the tip of the diamond in the No10 position rather than his natural role as a defensive midfielder. That spot was taken by Matteo Guendouzi, but the young Frenchman has a habit of giving the ball away in front of his own defence, which he did more than once. What is it about captaincy at Arsenal that seems to attract negativity? Since the halcyon days of Tony Adams and Patrick Vieira, both natural leaders of men and world-class players, Arsenal have struggled with the captaincy.

Pierre-emerick Aubameyang, who scored Arsenal’s goal, took it on Saturday, but it seemed a ceremonial gesture.

Guendouzi looked the most animated when his team-mates needed geeing up, berating them at one stage in the second half for their lack of drive. His warning fell on deaf ears as, moments later, a collective lapse in concentration allowed Joao Moutinho to run free from a quick throw-in and cross for

The shortcomings that heralded decline under Arsene Wenger are still there

Raul Jimenez to head the equaliser.