Why is Arsenal faltering in the premiership title race? by Kennedy
Arsenal’s hopes of winning the Premier league are over after a disappointing 3:3 draw with Southampton.
Just like in the previous season, the Gunners have crumbled like a house of cards at the most crucial moment of the season.
As the Premier league enters the business end, Arsenal is clearly showing signs of lethargy after topping the table for an extended period of time.
The three consecutive draws against Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton have damaged irreparably the Gunners premiership title ambitions.
This is baffling given that Arsenal managed to dispense with strong premiership sides in a congested fixture schedule when the Gunners were also competing in the Europa league.
Currently Arsenal is only playing one premier league match per week, but the results are disappointing.
What then is the problem with Arsenal?
William Saliba’s absence is hurting the Gunner’s defence.
Saliba got injured while playing against Sporting Lisbon in the Europa league sometimes back and the Gunners seem to have lost their defensive solidity since then.
Rob Holding has stepped in for Saliba, but his defensive partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes has been underwhelming to say the least.
The two centerbacks seem to be shaky and vulnerable.
One wonders how the duo will cope with the marauding Manchester City when the two sides meet at the Etihad later this month.
Arsenal is getting overwhelmed by pressure from Manchester City.
Winning the English premier league requires a team to exhibit strength, consistency and the ability to cope with massive pressure, especially towards the end of the season.
There are times when the premiership winner is decided on the last day of the season and the pressure can be nervewracking.
Pep Guardiola’s side is in a sparkling run of form after storming into the UEFA champions league semi-finals at the expense of Bayern Munich, and winning their premier league games convincingly against Liverpool, Southampton and Leicester city.
Arsenal on the other hand has dropped six points against Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton, blowing the premiership title race wide open.
The Cityzens are breathing fire down the Gunners necks, and the pressure seems to be taking its toll on Mikel Arteta and his young players.
Arsenal’s tactical naivety is letting them down.
Mikel Arteta’s footballing Philosophy is based on ball possession (tiki taka) and high pressing attacking football. This season, Arteta has employed the 4-3-3 system with devastating effect.
However, to win games in modern soccer requires a team to balance between attacking and defending. Arteta is obsessed with attacking even in games where Arsenal is leading with a few minutes left to play.
Against Liverpool, for instance, the Gunners conceded the equalizer in the 87th minute. The biggest weakness with Arsenal this season is poor game management especially when in a winning situation.
What can Arsenal do to prevent a catastrophic meltdown?
During the 2022 season, Arsenal lost the opportunity to play in the Champions league this season after losing winnable games against Brighton, Crystal palace and Southampton.
Mikel Arteta can prevent a repeat of this embarrassment by undertaking several tactical changes.
Switch to a back three 《3-4-3》formation until Saliba returns
Saliba’s absence at this stage of the season is a big headache for Arteta. In the match against Southampton, Arsenal conceded a goal just a couple of seconds after the game got underway.
One way of dealing with this problem is by playing with a back three, comprising of Kieran Tierney, Jacob Kiwior and Gabriel Magalhaes.
Zinchenko can play as a left wingback with Ben White featuring as the right wingback. Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey can play in the middle of the park. Gabriel Martinelli can be utilised in his usual left wing with Bukayo Saka on the right and Gabriel Jesus playing up top.
Arsenal should enlist the services of a sporting Psychologist.
Under the tactical periodization methodology which Arsenal utilises, a manager is required to focus on four aspects of football that is, the physical, psychological, technical and tactical components of the game.
It is expected therefore that the Arsenal coaching staff has a sports Psychologist or two. Mikel Arteta needs these experts now more than ever before, to equip his youthful players with skills such as resilience and composure to handle pressure and high expectations.
The Gunners certainly need psychological help to manage performance anxiety, away games, difficult opponents, temporary setbacks and season defining matches.
Arsenal must learn how to kill off games.
The Gunners must learn to be nasty when in a winning situation. The 2:2 draw with West Ham should never have happened if Arsenal hopes to lift the premier league. Killing off games can be accomplished by outscoring and outperforming opponents the way Manchester city does.
Alternatively, the Gunners should learn to absorb pressure, defend with resolve and frustrate opponents when in a winning position.
Aggression, intensity and concentration are mandatory tools for any side that aspires to win the English premier league.
If Arsenal can put in place these tactical changes, then they can put up a decent fight in the premiership title race or at least qualify for Champions league football next season in the worst-case scenario.
Kennedy Mwanzia
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Kiwior in a back three? The guy looks like a rabbit in the headlights when it’s one on one. Simple fact is, Saliba has been the most impactful player this season. Without him we lose composure and concentration at the back. Gabriel is half the player without him and Ramsdale is exposed. A change of formation right now would be suicide!
Mahrez scoring a hat trick for fun. I hope we show heart when we face city that is all I ask.
Are we looking forwards to Mahrez against Zinchenko?
If that’s the formation you’re going with, and I don’t disagree, does it make sense in having all left footers in the back three? Perhaps it might be better to put Ben White in with Gabriel & Tierney, and let Saka have the right side to himself, as he gets plenty of support from Odegaard anyway.
I’m not really much of a tactician, but think the emphasis should be on not losing this game, rather than going all out for a win, which is virtually impossible, even with a full-strength team.
Jax…why is it impossible? Why are you guys so negative? This is far less intimidating than going to anfield…I kinda rate our chances..
We must be brave and expose their defense…we can go to Etihad and win!
In any case, I think a tactical change at this point can do no more harm than already been done.
A back three consisting of Gabriel, Holding and Tierney will be an interesting one to see, with White and Zinchenko as wing backs.
But is Arteta flexible enough to accommodate this idea?
What is wrong with a back three of white Gabriel and Tierney, all are comfortable at playing a back three. Kivior is not ready to play, if he ever will be. Our biggest problem is not being able to deal with set backs. Last night was typical, playing Viera, instead of many options far better. Persisting with the Zinchenko experiment when it plainly isn’t working. Putting Jesus straight back in the team and not making him play the striker role as we need it. We have missed Saliba but not because the problem could have been sorted better, with personnel and tactical tweaks. We missed xhaka but only because the player picked was totally inadequate. We are blowing this season by gifting games and now we are gifting city the title. Surely we have to be better than that whatever excuses people offer. The last three games have been embarrassing from a so called top team.
How did the likes of myself call it all season ?
It’s in our Dna
🎯💯
“Our biggest problem is not being able to handle setbacks this season” really. Then how did we managed to remain tops since June? Just this three draws and u are generalizing a recent weekness caused by Salibas absence. Winning the EPl is not that easy. You can ask Liverpool who came 2nd with 91points.
Read what i have written in the past, this has been on the cards. I really laugh when a fan suggests that ONE player, whether it be striker, midfield or defender missing is our downfall. Dealing with adversity or to be precise not, is our downfall. Every person in football knows approaching May is the pressure time. We failed in our target last season and we seem to be doing the same this. Again from a massive position of strength. Arsenal, not Man City are losing the league. Who wins it will be the team that can handle it.
I’m just gonna say it…drop Jesus and start trossard…Jesus is not as deadly for half chances which will be crucial to us versus city
Mahrez vs Zinchenko next 😭😭
Pointless article from someone who thinks he is an expert. Got bored half way down so tbh never read it all. We all love to moan and have our say! Could anyone here guide our beloved club to where arteta has? Never in a million years! By all accounts have your say, but PLEASE don’t tell people arteta is wrong and you are right.
The chance/probability of a manager guiding Arsenal to the title in a million years,is very high me thinks!!
Thanks nostradamus….
Zinchenko can’t reliably defend the LB position, plenty of evidence to support this statement.
Don’t think Pep won’t target Zinchenko and the hole behind him when we play. Liverpool exposed him badly at Anfield, and their persistence paid off.
Expect more of the same from City, unfortunately for us.
Having been critical of yesterday’s game,I have to admit that it says a lot that no one is talking about St Totteringham’s Day.it shows the progress and the higher expectations at our club and from our fans.the natural order has finally been reestablished! COYG!!
A bit of welcome cheer Siamois
Yes,you take what you can SueP!!
Siamois yes we are not talking about it and the real reason why we are not is because few of us, if any, think of Spuds as serious rivals for us.
As such non rivals, its not worth crowing that we are miles better Most of us have long taken that as read and so most now ignore the irrelevant St Totts day.
@Jon Fox,I do not understand why you’re being so dismissive/smug about it.do you realize that it is the first time since 2016?you do not need me to tell you how many years,that we’ve finished being our “non rivals” as you called them.what does that say about us then?
I would play a 3-5-2 which can be a flexible 3-4-1-2 Only because Partey needs someone else to take the midfield load. Either ESR or Jorginho besides Partey.
3: Holding, Gabriel, Tierney
4: White, Partey, Jorginho/ESR, Zinchenko
1: MO/ Trossard
2: Saka, Martinelli
This way we make it hard for them to beat us. It would keep us in the title race in May.
If you asked me at the start of August I would have said top four would have been our top aim. However, The boys have surpassed that – I think they have been amazing – I just hope they win the Premiership this year – Being an Arsenal supporter since 1979 – I have had more amazing moments than most supporters 🙂
That’s the spirit Fi…let’s just win the damn games left
The reason we are having difficulties at the end of the season again is because our bench is not strong enough.
Arteta has played the same eleven players for most of the season, and now they are looking tired.
Jesus is still not completely match fit, while his only fit back-up is Trossard, who has played a lot of games recently.
Viera is not robust enough to replace Odegaard, let alone Xhaka.
Jourginho is just too slow these days.
We do not actually have replacements for either Xhaka or Partey.
Zinchenko is spending too much time in midfield, consequently he leaves gaps at left back. Tierney is a better defensive left back, but Arteta seems to like this current style of playing a full back in midfield.
Rob Holding is an okay center back, but is not as mobile as Saliba (but he does get stuck in more!!).
We have no real replacements for either Nellie or Saka, so they tend to play more minutes than they should.
At the moment we are having these problems while only playing EPL games. Going any distance in the UCL next season will require several new signings.
These will need to be signings that will make us even better, not just a lot of warm bodies!!!!!
To fix these issues will cost a lot of Shekels in the summer transfer window.
It will be interesting to see if the Bitcoins are forthcoming!!!
PS, why are we sniffing around Mason Mount, I hope it is not an attempt to entice Rice to join. I would rather not have Rice if it means we have to have Mount too!!!!
If Arsenal are too improve and challenge next season – I would not sign Mason Mount or Declan Rice – they are so average !!!
@FI, I completely agree with you. I don’t know what people see in Rice, he is an average player being hyped by English press. If we buy Rice we will regret it. He is nothing special and brings nothing special.
Rice was pretty special for West Ham against us a few days ago.
I agree with most of your points. We clearly do not have the strength in depth of some of the other top teams.
Some relatively basic errors have also cost us dearly.
Holding has to get “stuck in more” in part due to his weaknesses. He is slower than the other defenders and is not as good at anticipation and spatial awareness as Saliba. His decision-making with the ball at his feet has improved but he is still not at the younger man’s level.
A number of fans are failing to see how Holding’s limitations are affecting the the way we approach games. It is one of the reasons we have been engaged in more “backs to the wall” type football recently. Holding generally does OK in these kind of situations but it is not ideal for this team.
I dont get your formation……
or do i mean no odegaard?!
When I watched Gabriel get completely bamboozled by our own Theo Walcott, it reminded me just how much of a player he was.
Speedy, aggressive and always looking to attack – once a Gooner etc etc.
As for the game itself, the team selected just wasn’t good enough, despite having better options on the bench.
Trossard, Tierney, ESR were all twiddling their thumbs and, just like last season, the rot has started.
Now I happen to believe that we can beat City, but only if we put our players into the positions that they are best at.
The crowd were magnificent once again and the ovation they gave to Theo when he was substituted, was tremendous.
The referee was so lazy in his approach to their time wasting and I can’t recall a game in the PL (when no major injuries were involved) where 15 extra minutes were added – 7 in the first half and 8 in the second.
We will find out on Wednesday EXACTLY where we have closed the gap on city.
Sorry to be such a pedant, but it was 10 minutes added in the second half, as time-wasting during added time was also added to a game that went over 100 minutes.
Martinelli. Jesus. Trossard.
Tierney. Jorginho. Partey. Saka.
Gabriel. Holding. White.
Ramsdale.
3-4-3
Against Man CIty on next Wedsday night in the Epl at the Etihad, I prefer to see Arsenal keep to their back-four defense-line playing formation. Which the Gunners have adapted since the season begun. And are used to it in playing and comfortable with it in their Epl matches this season.
Despite the injury suffered by Saliba which has sidelined him. But has seen Holding stepping in for him to be starting. Arteta and us Gooners have no choice other than to resign our faith in: White, Holding, Magalhaes and Zinchenko to see them step it up extraordinarily on their game defensively and attackingly for Arsenal in the match for 90 minutes plus of the it.
And let the Gunners midfield trio of Xhaka, Odegaard and Partey also step it up extraordinarily too in their game for Arsenal in the match.
And the Gunners front trio of: saka, Gabriel Jesus and Martinelli SHOULD as well step it up extraordinarily in their game for Arsenal on the night.
Once the Gunners as individual and as a team step it up extraordinarily in their game for Arsenal throughout the entire duration of match. And successfully withstand the Citizens bullying them in the game to score. Especially that Man City’s monster striker Erling Haaland and midfielder Kevin Debruyne. Arsenal will beat Man City to win the match and win it.
Against Man CIty on next Wedsday night in the Epl at the Etihad, I prefer to see Arsenal keep to their back-four defense-line playing formation. Which the Gunners have adopted since the season begun. And are used to it in playing and comfortable with it in their Epl matches this season.
Despite the injury suffered by Saliba which has sidelined him. But has seen Holding steppitng in for him to be starting. Arteta and us Gooners have no choice other than to resign our faith in: White, Holding, Magalhaes and Zinchenko to see them step it up extraordinarily in their game defensively and attackingly for Arsenal in the match for 90 minutes plus of it.
And let the Gunners midfield trio of Xhaka, Odegaard and Partey also step it up extraordinarily too in their game for Arsenal in the match.
And the Gunners front trio of: saka, Gabriel Jesus and Martinelli SHOULD as well step it up extraordinarily in their game for Arsenal on the night.
Once the Gunners as individual and as a team step it up extraordinarily in their game for Arsenal throughout the entire duration of the match. And successfully withstood the Citizens bullying them in the game to score. Especially that Man City’s monster striker Erling Haaland and Ape midfielder Kevin Debruyne. Arsenal will beat Man City to win the match and win it.
I agree with your rational analysis. We have got this far using most of those players and now is not the time to discard them or even panic unnecessarily. The Southampton game was married by Ramsdale’s overconfidence which gifted them a goal in the opening minute. That goal did a lot to destabilise our team. It was a real shocker! Our boys need to go to Man city with the determination to win. Surely City can’t turn us into their puncbags all the time. We need to be determined on reversing this injustice. However to achieve this team selection will be very crucial. If a player like Fabio Vieira is selected we should count the game as lost even before the first whistle. Our earnest prayer should be for a miracle to happen so that Saliba is fit to start. With Saliba and Xhaka back in the team we can give Man city a good game.
Correction: Marred instead of married with regard to Southampton game.
You guys are pushing the panic button. Forget this back three nonsense. Tierney at wingback, Zivchenko in the centre The players who will need to make a difference are Partey, Jesus and Odegaard.
Nonsense it may be, but I think most of the commenters here are looking for a formation that doesn’t include Holding (bless him & his hair transplant), and if you can suggest one as the squad stands right now, please let on.😉
I also believe we have to play a 5 at the back although still don’t think that will be ento stop City scoring but we have to set up to frustrate them for as long as possible and stay in the game we will create chances and its whether we we take them will decide the match!
Unfortunately we are stuck with Holding because we don’t have a proper right back to cover for White if he is moved to centre half. I would not go near Kvior as he has not shown anything as to be thrown in at the deepend . Arsenal don’t need another useless body in our penalty area. We have been punished enough by our players simplly nodding the ball on, unable to retake possession, retake control and giving the opposition further opportunities to exploit our weanknesses.In any case Holding will be the least of a worries. Manchester City’s raids will begin with our midfield not being agressive enough, giving the ball away too easily and us not having the players who can run back to cover and protect the centre halves, thus leaving them exposed again as the last line of defense. My gamble would be to move White at at centre half, sacrifice Saka at wing back and start with Trossard at numer 7. Tierney would also play wing back and leaving Zivchenko to do the grunt work in the middle, in place of you know who. It is an all or nothing game after all. I’d rather we took it to them and who knows they may panic.
Yeah, good plan.
My only argument with the article would be this fantasy that the epl is ‘harder to win’ than the old fl. It isn’t. By any stretch of the imagination. The exact same things mentioned, mental strength, flexible tactics, strong leadership have always been key. The other point that defence is as important, if not more so, has been accepted going all the way back to one Herbert Chapman. So not exactly a shock revelation. The one difference is the need for cover. Titles were won over a 42 match season with squads of just 15 players in days when tackles were still allowed, pitches were reduced to bogs in winter, and yet the pace of the game, bs aside, was little different to today. It speaks volumes therefore, that the title winning managers got the best out of, often modest covering players, and the mental strength of first team regulars that they could keep going no matter what. Today’s players clearly have neither the strength or appetite of those teams.
Thus you cut your cloth..
This means in today’s game, you ‘must’ have ample cover, in particular in defence. We clearly still don’t have that. Nor do we have cover in defensive midfield. Viera, who was not yet meant to be a starter by the managers own admission has been thrown in at the deep end, and become the target of fans anger when he hasn’t been up to it. Holding has never been a first team regular for a good reason, hes not positive enough either in the tackle or his distribution. Partnered with Gabriel it’s a central defence waiting for an accident to happen. A title winning team cannot rely on one key player, saliba, if it wants to win the prize.
The whole ‘it’s fine to finish second’ thing is nonsense. It’s been a ‘Leicester’ season, and we might not get this chance again in a while. As such, the collapse in key games that was worrying earlier in the season, has now become a nightmare over the last three games.
Can we beat City? Anything is possible. However, comparisons to 89 are utterly false. This is not that team, one that had already powered through adversity to achieve success, and Arteta is no George Graham. Yet.
Will we beat City though? It seems highly unlikely, and no, in the real World they are not ‘going to drop points’. As such we, more than likely, need to get working on our issues and building on our strengths in the summer.
Perhaps Marge is acting like a seer when he asserts that City will not drop points in the real world. However as someone walking this earth I know that nothing is impossible. Maybe Marge meant in the ideal world.
I said real world and meant it. You don’t need to be a ‘seer’ when even the most rabid City haters have admitted after us, there is no-one else they are likely to drop points against at this stage. Last season’s run in for City w 9 d 3 L 0. At the moment they look even more powerful. Yes they ‘may’ drop points, they ‘may’ even lose a few. Anything is possible as you say. If they don’t though, be prepared for me to post you a hat…
A contributor to Arsenal’s capitulation in the title race has to lay at Arteta’s door and his failure to rotate his team efficiently and adapt his in-game tactics.
The First XI have performed admirably this season largely, but seem to run out of ideas at some points during the match. This is where Arteta needs to improve.
His failure to properly utilize his squad is a serious downfall and probably quite demoralising for those who find themselves on the subs bench.
What incentive is there for the likes of Kieran Tierney and Emile Smith Rowe when regardless of what they do or have done in the past they continue to be overlooked.
What has Fabio Vieira shown that warrants him being selected ahead of ESR? And as for Zinchenko, for all his technical abilities he has cost us points at the business end of the season.