Arsenal are currently experiencing a poor run of form, regardless of their victory against Wolves, and this is a reality the club must acknowledge. While the three points were welcome, the overall performance did little to dispel growing concerns about consistency and direction at a crucial stage of the season.
Following the defeat to Aston Villa, Arsenal went three away league matches without a win, creating an expectation that they would respond emphatically against Wolves. Many anticipated a commanding display that would silence critics and restore confidence. However, despite securing the win, that level of performance did not materialise, and it has become increasingly clear that momentum in the title race is slipping away.
Momentum fading in the title race
Although it is only December, this Arsenal side is already showing signs of strain under relatively modest pressure. The squad depth that was widely praised at the beginning of the campaign appears to have diminished, either through injuries, loss of form, or a lack of effective rotation. What once looked like a major strength is no longer having the desired impact when the team is tested.
The concern is not solely about results, but about energy and belief. The team looks as though it is struggling to sustain intensity, and that has inevitably affected performances. This has led to questions about whether the current group can cope with the demands of a genuine title challenge over a long season.
January window could be decisive
There is, however, an opportunity to address these issues. The January transfer window is only two weeks away, and decisive action could yet salvage the campaign. Given the scale of business conducted during the summer, few expected Arsenal to be in this position, but further recruitment now appears necessary.
Andrea Berta may need to make additional signings to inject fresh energy and competition into the squad. This group clearly requires reinforcement to rediscover momentum and handle the pressure associated with winning the league. The club must carefully assess ongoing injury problems and identify positions that need support while there is still time.
Failure to act decisively could have serious consequences, potentially resulting in a fourth consecutive second-place finish in the league standings, a scenario Arsenal will be desperate to avoid.
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That seems a little hasty. We’ve spent a small fortune on this squad. We have ample depth.
Seems like most fans want to rant for some rra9sn despite us being top of PL and CL
It’s expected to have some downturn in form during the season yet we are still top.
Interesting to note this is likely our first week without a midweek game since end of August ! 15/16 weeks …almost 4 months!!
Injuries to key players and key sectors of the pitch as a whole in some weeks. !
Let’s hope the boys get a good rest and also Arteta some time to discuss tactics and work on systems etc .. it’s been pretty full on with these games and travelling as well as intensity of the competitions.
Thankfully in stadia there is not the angst from fans as there is on here !
The problem lies on Arteta. He is bottling it. I think Arsenal needs a new captain. Declan Rice is the suitable candidate
It was Berta’s and Arsenal’s fault that gave Arteta another poacher like Gyokeres and a luxurious CAM like Eze, despite knowing that the manager’s tactics require a physically dominant front-line pivot or false-nine and we’ve already got too many good CAMs
Berta also made similar expensive mistakes at Atletico Madrid, by signing Felix and Cunha whose playing styles aren’t really suited to Simeone’s tactics
Berta should’ve known that Gyokeres’ goal tally in Portugal was heavily inflated by penalties and the Swedish aren’t strong enough to play against huge EPL CBs
“The problem” lies with the manager, but we need a new captain? That makes no sense. How is the manager “bottling it”?
Switching the armband to Rice won’t make any difference to anything. Where we CAN improve has more to do with players fitting and syncing better, and some of that will happen automatically as key players return. Some of it is on the manager and training staff, but mostly it’s on the players to build that.
I think.having a new captain will make a world of difference here. Personalities like Rice or Gabby can really pressure fellow teammates to perform well. I can already imagine Gab screaming at Martinelli maybe if he loses the ball. It’s a small workaround when Arteta’s tactics are not working.
Hmm, well I certainly agree with you that they would both be fully capable of performing that role well. Rice has proven it already, and would actually be my preferred captain if we were starting from a clean slate.
But given that they are already bellowing at their team mates constantly, and officially in Arteta’s leadership group, I just don’t see that naming one of them captain would be anything much more than symbolic right now.
It also runs the risk of demoralizing Ødegaard, who is one of our most important players. And Saka is our deputy captain, so passing him over could be perceived as a snub.
We’re top of the EPL and the UCL. I just don’t think it’s a boat worth rocking right now.
👍
Rice would be fine as a captain, but Gabriel Magalhaes has very limited English so would probably be a poor choice. I’ve noticed that just the good English speakers get to wear the arm band. Makes sense. TBH I think it’s just between Rice & Ødegaard, as they both play centrally, which is important for the captain.
But obviously.. the same Dec who turned away from the incoming cross that resulted in the goal on Saturday should be captain. By the way the vice captain is Bukayo.
Bugger what the rest of the playing squad thinks about who should be captain lets just make Declan the captain. Is there a non xenophobic logic for making Dec the captain?
I’m not really concerned who captains Arsenal, we have some worthy contenders, but could you please tell me what would be “xenophobic” in making it officially Rice? Are you suggesting that there’s some hatred of overseas players?
I doubt if we will make any signing this January. We spent a lot of money and fair play regulation has to be met.
Hopefully we don’t get more massive injuries especially to the defense positions.
We’re not in any immediate danger of breaking FFP rules because club income has been increasing since last season. We could easily sign a top player in the next window and still be totally fine.
But will we? Probably not, unless we pick up a few serious injuries to key players.
I will take kiwior back this very imstant over hincapie
EXACTLY. 👌 Bro
Is this what’s called knee jerk reaction and hence panic buy? Every solution resides inside not outside. Let’s hope the injured come back sooner esp Havertz and Maghales and Arsenal will be much better off in both boxes.
If decide to buy, can the market provide a player that won’t get injured?
Exactly, Ambachew.
We’ve barely fielded a full first team squad all season, have had multi-week injuries to most of our top players, and YET we’re still top of the league, as well as top of the Champions League table.
People need to stop hitting the panic button.
That said, I wouldn’t be totally surprised if they go in for another left winger or central midfielder if an opportunity presents itself.
We need Gabriel back as soon as possible. Almost as massive for us as Haaland is for City.
The greatest factor in whether we win EPL or not is City’s form, we need them to be shit for many games and drop silly points.
Else we need 14 to 16 game winning run to create a meaningful separation at the top of the pile.
Martinelli and Ødegaard are good players, but they are certainly not championship-level players. A title-contending Arsenal cannot rely on them to make a difference in crucial moments—they are only suitable as substitutes. They can be sold at the right time and for the right price to bring in one or two top-tier players, such as Semeño, Icardi, or Osimhen. Of course, it would be even better if the midfield could sign a player like Guimarães to add strength and attacking threat. Additionally, the Arsenal captain must be replaced—Ødegaard’s demeanor and personality are clearly too weak, while Rice and Gabriel are more suitable. A championship-winning team needs a championship-winning captain.
I believe the two mentioned are better than Eze
Eze was awful against Wolves (along with the rest of them tbf).
This team lacks highly talented players in the midfield and attack, both in terms of physical attributes and technical ability. The ceilings of players like Eze and Saka aren’t particularly high, and while Madueke shows some potential, it seems difficult for him to fully reach it. Compared to Manchester City’s Doku, Haaland, and Cherki; Liverpool’s Ekiti, Isak, Szoboszlai, and Salah; or Chelsea’s Palmer, Estevão, and Neto. Compared to the attacking talent at other top clubs… Arsenal’s squad seems unbalanced and lacking in attacking quality.
The problem lies with the likes of Martinelli, saka and Odegard who are not ready to assist Gyokeres to score when opportunity arises.
I’m not sure if we need signings but the problem we have for vital positions we have too many “versatile” players as MA calls then which he tends to try and sign.
A few versatile players fine but to have too many is a problem like we see now. For positions like CB you cannot have 1 proper CB as a cover for your 2 first choices, it’s a specialist position!
Yes Timber, Calafiori, White and even Rice/Norgaard can all fill in but we only have Mosquera as a backup and he’s injured. We had the funds and the means to have proper backup
Yes we have Hincapie but he’s very inexperienced and is a last resort at the moment and we hit gold with Mosquera thank goodness
I think we should be utilizing Norgaard more as cover there but I’m not sure if MA sees him in that role
PJ-SA,
I’m with you regards the versatility issue. I’ve said in more than one post over time, that although I believe there’s a place for versatile players, for me where possible it’s better in the long run to play players in their preferred position.
Although they can do a job when needed in other positions, for me we’ll have a better level of performance from the ones played in their preferred positions more often than not. 👍
Derek. At the moment I think we owe a debt of gratitude to the versatility at the club. Without it, I fear we’d have been overtaken last season when Jesus got injured and then Havertz too as Merino had to step up as chief goal scorer. As it is now, having a depleted back line, having players who are able to adapt has been a real bonus imo
SueP,
As I said versatility does have its place, and I agree with you’re sentiments. But I to do stand by my thoughts regarding playing regularly in their preferred position would more often than not produce more consistent levels of performance. 👍
Typical arsenal fans on Justarsenal, I must say the crop of fans we have on this platform is pathetic, always crying and whining and complaining.
‘The ceilings of players like Eze and Saka aren’t particularly high’
Above statement is a statement made by a so called Arsenal fan, ain’t that beautiful? When Arsenal were winning matches without having a shit on target recorded against them, you lot never see this coming? So you think Arsenal would win the EPL without letting in goals? Lol
Did it ever occur to you guys that Arteta’s tactics is a time bomb waiting to explode? How can you score against Wolves and switch to defensive play?
I’ve always said this, we are winning matches, we are top of the table both in EPL and UCL but we are not playing like champions and it’s no player’s fault, it’s simply the managers tactics
Good analysis bro! The way we switch off anytime we are not winning or playing well is so pathetic. When city were struggling, everyone wrote them off, now that they have found their rhythm, the story has changed! We have more games to play, pls let’s do constructive criticism. At least, let’s the gaffer benefit of doubt. We are still leading for God sake
It looks to me that you’re having your own “crying and whining and complaining.” issues with the criticisms of Arteta.
Imo it is a marathon and not a sprint
We haven’t been pretty on the eye in recent games. We certainly have failings and faults which can be rectified.
Siting top and limping over the line is better then be in the chasing pack and not getting results.
Some seem to think a 2-1 win against wolves even though we scored at the death was a poor result
City will be there or there abouts come the end of the season but happy to take anyone’s money to say city will lose more games then us come the end of the season
CIty are good but are not city of old and have a soft underbelly.
Why are some panicking now. If we are like this in March then happy to join the club but for now we are doing what we have to do to get over the line
Big test against the toffees next so let’s see
Onwards and upwards
the injuries have taken a bit out of players confidence,
key players missing the belief diminishes.. Everton away
is though, if we win we should buy.. one attacking speedster. !!
We are wobbly results-wise, while City look to have found some form.
We need to rest, prepare, and settle in for a fight for the title.
We know City will be there, waiting for us to slip. Villa is making a charge now, but I believe will fade in the Spring.
If we slip and let City get in front, interesting to see how we respond; we have plenty of talent, but the mentality remains in question until we win the PL.
In reality we’re comparing Arsenal against Arsenal, not against direct rivals. If so, we need to be happier that we still lead the 2 leagues and are in the QF stage in Carabao.
At some point we rightly or wrongly imagined Arsenal would become a runaway leader even dreaming of ensuring the title around Christmas. Now we’re down to earth facing series of moments of truths that come along with the best league in the world. Minnows beating or drawing against giants. Some early leaders sliding back while others like Villa galloping from 18th to 3rd. The marathon roller coaster season embodies a lot of twists and turns in it. We need to have fine shock absorbers to not succumb to panics.
Very eloquently put
Ambachew,
Regards you’re quote, at some point we rightly or wrongly imagined Arsenal would become a runaway leader even dreaming of ensuring the title by Christmas.
You don’t need to include me in that scenario, at no point have I ever thought we would have the title won by Christmas. I leave that to these silly so called pundits who should quite frankly know better.
The season is long and arduous, and there will no doubts be more twists and turns. If come May we’re lifting the title, then and only then will I be ready for that open top parade through the streets of Islington. 🤞
Yeah there were a couple of us saying be humble and just wait
Lets see if Liverpool will sell us Isak or Utd will sell us Sesko. Oh wait a minute………
How likely was it that we were going to run away with the league? Momentum always changes throughout a season. The injures though, that can be managed. Something clearly isn’t right. The way White has been managed so terribly leading to an unnecessary hamstring injury has me questioning the competence of the medical and management teams.
Do we need more signings, definitely not. The squad is full in numbers, it’s just the injuries is making things more difficult and our new signings aren’t all taking off like we’d hoped. Eze has been pretty hot/cold, and Gyokeres has been downright not good in 90% of the matches he’s played for us. Enough money was spent in the summer. I’ll say what I said at the beginning of the summer, Mikel has ZERO excuses. This is 100% his team and he’s had more than enough time to make it work. We should all still be expecting silverware from him with no excuses about not being supported by the higher-ups who went above and beyond this summer.
January is a very poor window to sign top quality players for me I am worried as it is not even the buisness end of the season and Arsenal are showing all the signs of bottling it and you can see city starting to tick what will cost Arsenal the tittle is them 2 games against Liverpool and City both were there for the taking but Arteta set up not to loose and ended up with 1 point plus could not beat Chelsea who had 10 men for more than a hour we do not turn up for the big games and that’s what will cost Arsenal the tittle at the end!
I feel we won’t win the prem title this year we definitely bought the wrong centre forward afraid Gyokeres isn’t good enough, and won’t score enough goals ,unlike Harland for city we should have got etetike ,and that will be the difference Jesus’s needs to lose weight ,and maybe get goals
We have a very good players this season. We must question the system that we really choose to play. Our game is very slow. Wolverhampton was defending from the start and our Arsenal slow the game. I think the manager is afraid of speeding up the game and win
Thanks Mr President for some common sense. I read on some Arsenal fan site that the near disaster against Wolves was down to the players and not the manager. Pure stupidity. The players are forced to play to a rigid system that has been found out and unless he can unlock the defensive grid that even the weakest teams can set up successfully,then I don’t care who he signs, he will fail. Arteta ball relies on low risk possession football creating few chances and high expectations on Saka, Trossard and Martinelli to produce something spectacular. When they can’t and the set pieces don’t work ,then our attack becomes impotent. Also for a manager focused on a strong defence, we are also too vulnerable to a counter attack and are defensively mistake prone. Particularly in the final stages of a game why can’t our defenders win 50/50 challenges, find a midfield link player who can push the play forward and force pressure on the opposition, rather than this current tendency to kick the ball anywhere play for the clock to run down. I also agree that there have been mistakes made with our transfer business. We should have invested in a specialised speedy wingback who can overlap as well as provide cover. We should also have looked for a younger, more dynamic midfielder than Zubamendi. Someone who can hustle and bustle. And of course, it will only be a matter of time before opposing fans begin to taunt Gyorkes with, ” what a waste of money” chants. With him on the field we are currently playing with ten men and if he and Merino are both on at the same time, then we are playing with nine. Another, gripe; Arteta’s support staff needs a shake up. Too cautious, too focused on set pieces and what’s with all these hamstring injuries? Definitely with City breathing down his neck this season will be make or brake for Arteta. Can he tweak the game plan, inspire his players to remain level headed and even realise that certain players such as Odegaard have peaked and it’s time to give Nwaneri and Dowman more opportunities?
So Joe. S…. can you now explain why we’re top of the PL and why, in CL, we’re undefeated and the only club to be so?
There must be some really terrible managers in the PL and CL if Mikel is getting everything wrong in the way you described and, it seems, with such dross players!!
I can only assume Mikel’s a genius to be where he is, after everything you have just said!!
I can’t explain it Ken, but definitely hope it’s a case of my dumb and your smarts at season’s end. Every team has it’s good and bad breaks. We were lucky against Manure, played garbage got the one break, left with three points. In other games early in the season weaker opponents were getting chances and missing them while we managed to bag the three points through set pieces. A great last-minute comeback against Newcastle also got us out of jail and three more points. That luck is not always going to ride in our favour, although we still managed to steal the three points against mighty Wolves. Thing is with the money spent and squad depth Arsenal should be holding something like an eight point lead and not sweating about another banana skin game at Everton. Arteta has been given everything he could ask for in terms of transfers and assistants. Apart from Champions League why are we playing such boring and not always conclusive football? And even there it’s often been brilliant goals rather than tactical nous which has got us the wins. And I may as well get this in, I would immediately swap both Gyorkes and Merino in exchange for a 26 year old Aubameyang. And I would be laughing.
“Thing is with the money spent and squad depth Arsenal should be holding something like an eighth point lead….” Speak of an entitled statement lol😁😂
So whose fault is it we dropped the points, manager’s and players or we entitled supporters? I have nothing to do with negative tactics, lack of creativity and poor decision making. Not going to blame referees and injuries either,which is probably where you are heading.
Arsenal have dropped points. So have various other top level teams.
According to you with the money spent Arsenal should be holding something like an 8 point lead.
Can you explain how you have reached this particular conclusion? Have you carried out some calculations or do you have a model that you have used?
Generally speaking, the minute there is a blip, it heralds an outpouring of negative views. In terms of this being a serious one, I can’t possibly say it is. Now, if a trend develops such as City last season and then Liverpool’s this year, then there are grounds to question the direction the team is heading.
Personally, I don’t get it. So many people complain about a poor performance – understandably imo – but don’t just do it at the time when everyone is sounding off, but it instead carry on for days.
Maybe it was the same model you based your post on that Arteta was better tactically than Wenger .
Remains the strangest comment of the year
That and he’s eclipsed Pep Guardiola
That’s just the simple truth everything boils down to the manager’s I’ll conceived tactics. The weird choice of slow paced sideways build up and switching off after scoring a goal and his resorting to defense that has cost Arsenal needed points yet his fans and board chose to turn blind eyes on it.
While his deniers turn a blind eye to our top position in both the PL and CL by playing the way you describe, which is false anyway… apart from the Wolves game.
How many games have we lost in all competitions so far this season Okey?
Disagree with the article and some of the sensationalist comments around terrible signings.
Look at city poor start and now in form with a smaller weaker squad than ours. We are very well placed to go the distance and we will. We are far from unique, many teams around us, Chelsea, palace, spurs all suffering due to fatigue at the moment. Completely normal in the fixture congested norm we now have in football.
Just take a chill pill everyone. Even if we fall 5/6 points behind, regain form and can win the league from that position. That might be what it takes.
Relax we have a long way to go.
Dan/Derek,
You had then erred by not joining the bandwagon and the masses. You were in offside positions.
Especially after Liverpool began to show signs of retreating from the title race, it really seemed Arsenal were wanting to have a formidable title contender that saves EPL from being another Bundesliga.
Maybe we should move for K. Mainoo from utd..?? Or
is he not not physical enough
Too often we settle for slow, sideways buildup rather than using speed to our advantage.
We slow walk the ball up the pitch, and then face a low block. Perhaps be more direct and don’t give the opponents time to set up their defense.
Gone is the excitement of 22-23 season, edge of your seat direct play that had fans and other clubs talking about Arsenal.
Now with enough depth to field 2 PL starting 11’s, we still play so slow, static, and possession over product style football.
The game is becoming a chess match between managers rather than players IMHO, and the game is much poorer for it.
No they don’t need to do any transfer business. We have the best squad assembled in a decade or more. If we don’t win the league it’s not down to lack transfer activity. This shouldn’t be the default answer to a dip in form
If the rate at which Arsenal players are getting injured this year , no amount of new signings can help. Almost everyone in the team has gone through injury. Very unusual & difficult for any team to win something with so many injuries
I bet our 11 this weekend will be stronger then Everton’s ?
Everton may not field at least 3 important players in Ndiaye, Gana Gueye and Dewsbury Hall. What an advantage to Arsenal!
Beto is a Guinea Bissau player and he plays v Arsenal on Saturday as that nation didn’t qualify to Afcon.
Exactly and Grealish might be out
Grealish? Is it Arteta while at City that loaned Grealish out to Everton or injury issue which is unheard of?