Arsenal’s Title Charge Under Pressure: Are Cracks Beginning to Appear?

It has been 22 years since Arsenal last lifted the Premier League trophy. Their 2003/2004 Invincibles will forever live in the memory of Arsenal fans all over the world, but the question for those trophy-hungry fans now is whether the pressure to end such a long title drought is starting to show.

Arsenal’s Recent Form: A Cause for Concern?

It has certainly looked like that in recent weeks. When they beat Aston Villa 4-1 on December 30th, many expected Arsenal to kick on and assert themselves in the title race, but since then, they have won just 1 of their next 4 matches. A win over Bournemouth has been followed by three below-par performances. After an encouraging first 30 minutes against Liverpool, Arsenal collapsed, allowing Arne Slot’s team to dominate for the remainder of the game without being capable of scoring.

They then struggled against a Nottingham Forest side languishing 17th in the table, managing only a 0-0 draw, which denied them the chance to go 11 points clear at the top. Then came the match against Manchester United. Again, a bright opening was followed by a fall, which resulted in them losing their first home match of the season to a United side looking to rebuild under interim boss Michael Carrick.

The groans were heard all over the stadium as United undid Arsenal’s robotic and rigid style, reminding everyone of the team’s failings over the last couple of seasons when they have blown leads at the top of the table. So, what are the reasons behind this mini slump for a team that, for much of the season, has appeared ruthless and dominant both domestically and in the Champions League?

Arteta Must Get Arsenal’s Attack Firing

Viktor Gyökeres, Noni Madueke, and Eberechi Eze were all brought in during the summer for a combined fee of around £163 million to help the side become more complete in attack, but so far this season, that has failed to be the case. Though they sit top of the table, their recent struggles have highlighted the team’s weakness in scoring goals from open play.

This season, Arsenal have scored 16 goals from set plays out of their total of 42, while they have also been aided by four own goals. Viktor Gyökeres and Leandro Trossard are currently the club’s top scorers in the league with five goals each, but both have struggled recently. Gyökeres has no non-penalty goals in his last 11 appearances, while Trossard has just one in his last 11 games.

Arsenal have no one, bar set plays and own goals, scoring consistently this season — something that could come back to haunt them if this mini-slump becomes more permanent over the coming weeks.

Arteta Must Let the Shackles Off

The mentality of Arsenal in the league this season has certainly appeared to be safety-first. There is an argument that this approach has worked so far, with the side four points clear at the top of the table, but there is no doubt that this style stifles the attacking and creative threats of Martin Ødegaard, Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze, and Bukayo Saka.

The Arsenal style appears so robotic these days that when a match descends into the kind of game their clash with United became, they struggle to adapt.

Their domestic problems are in stark contrast to the confident team seen in the Champions League. They are unbeaten in the competition, winning all eight of their group stage games and playing with a swagger that marks them as major contenders to win their first-ever Champions League crown.

It Can’t Be All Bad News for Arsenal

It’s not — and here is why Arsenal fans should not be hiding behind their sofas just yet. They still hold a four-point lead over their main title challengers, Manchester City and Aston Villa. Neither side has been flawless recently, with City winning just one of their last five league games and Villa beginning to feel the strain of a stretched squad.

Arsenal are also already qualified for the last 16 in Europe, hold a 3-2 lead heading into their League Cup semi-final second leg against Chelsea, and remain in the FA Cup.

Conclusion

That defeat to United offers Mikel Arteta and his team a chance to regroup and refocus. He can still point to the fact that Arsenal sit four points clear at the top despite their recent struggles, and he will be confident that if they can address their issues, they remain strong contenders for the title.

If their poor form continues over the next few fixtures, however, questions surrounding the club’s mentality, the manager’s tactics, and his overall approach will only grow louder — as will the pressure on Mikel Arteta.

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