Mikel Arteta has set his Arsenal side a daunting target ahead of the 2024/25 season. “We want to improve in everything”, declared the Spanish coach. “Offensive metrics, defensive metrics, restarts, set pieces.”
Three months into the campaign, Arsenal have not improved in any of the highlights.
The Gunners are less effective going forward and more leaky at the back. They have dropped nine points from league leaders Liverpool. Manchester City are wrapped up in their own worst lost race under Pep Guardiola, but the current champion is still four points above arsenal.
Here’s what went wrong and why it might not be all bad.
|
Games played (all compositions) |
win |
draws |
losses |
goal difference |
League position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
17 |
9 |
5 |
3 |
+15 |
4th |
Arteta was eager avoid making excusesbut the impact of injuries and ill-discipline cannot be overlooked at this early stage of the campaign.
Arsenal were reduced to ten men in three of their first eight games of the season and proceeded to drop points on each occasion. unfortunately, Rice Declan and Leandro Trossard were given their marching orders after kicking the ball around petulantly.
When the Gunners limped aa Defeat by 2-0 against Bournemouth after the dismissal of William Saliba in the first half, Arteta’s men had spent more than 20% of the season playing with a numerical disadvantage.
Even when Arsenal have a full complement of players, it can feel like they are playing a man down if one of the team’s key figures is missing. Martin Odegaard was out for 12 games with a sprained ankle, causing extended stretches of painfully pedestrian play that was invariably channeled only through Bukayo Saka. All too often, set pieces seem to be Arsenal’s only reliable route to goal.
The north London outfit have been beaten by six clubs this season, incl Brentford and Brighton. These struggles extend beyond the surface level. Arsenal have created less than 1.0 xG in five of their 11 league games this season, a feat that only happened six times all of last season.
“In every match there will be a mistake” David Raya once notified. So far, Arsenal’s Spanish number one has replaced mistakes with moments of brilliance, keeping his side in several games almost single-handedly (or with two gloves).
Raya’s excellent form was particularly evident at the start of the season. In less than a month, the former Brentford number one made two miraculous double saves to keep a clean sheet. Aston Villa and Atalanta. That Raya has to pull off such heroics so often is the real concern – Arsenal’s shot-stopper faces double the efforts on a game-by-game basis this term compared to last season.
While the Raya covers the gaps in the back, Bukayo Saka he is Arsenal’s beacon of consistency at the sharp end of the pitch. This month’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea It was just the third time this season that the England sensation failed to register a goal or assist in a Premier League game. Only one player in Europe’s top five leagues can better Saka’s tally of seven assists: Nuno Tavares, who ironically is on loan to Lazio from Arsenal.
Edu Gaspar’s shock resignation as the sporting director caused a small wave of panic earlier this month, but from the early return of this summer’s arrivals, Arsenal won’t be missing out on much. While Riccardo Calafiori has had flashes of brilliance during his brief time out of the treatment room, there has been less encouragement regarding Mikel Merino i Raheem Sterling.
Merino is recovering from a serious injury lay-off and still appears to be a long way from match sharpness. The tall totem pole in the middle of the pitch captures the imposing physical profile of most Arsenal players: more clumsy than crafty. While fighting alongside the likes of Rice Declan i Thomas Parteyadmitted Merino himself: “Now we look like a basketball team.” They might have better luck if they were allowed to catch the ball.
Sterling loan moves from Chelsea it’s a low-cost bet that has yet to pay off. Arteta has only given the former Manchester City player a fleeting cameo and last used him a month ago.
Last season, Leandro Trossard he was often Arsenal’s reliable finisher, in every sense of the word. With a regular ability to come off the bench to provide a clinical edge in the frontline, the Belgian edged the fringes of cult hero status. Despite getting more playing time in Odegaard’s absence, Trossard’s output has fallen off a cliff. A recent injury it will prevent the 29-year-old from breaking a goal drought that dates back to September.
Arsenal have been worrying about pace, but it would be too early to write off the entire campaign. With Odegaard’s back fit and the punishment that comes with kicking the ball absorbed of late, there is reason to anticipate some sort of uptick in form.
Arteta’s side have also gone through some of their toughest games. The Gunners have had away games against five of last season’s top seven and hosted Liverpool. based on of Opta team ratingsArsenal have the fourth-easiest run of games over the next ten-game block.
Despite a disappointing loss at Inter earlier this month – which, after all, was at home to the reigning Italian champions – Arteta’s side are well placed to qualify for the last 16 of La Liga of Champions. They have an attractive draw against Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup and will automatically be favorites for the FA Cup.
The Premier League title – and Arteta’s demands for overall improvement – may remain out of reach, but all hope is not lost. at the moment
