JOE BERNSTEIN: Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard’s telepathic understanding has dissipated, there’s a big hole at No 9 and Kai Havertz is no Granit Xhaka – with one win in seven, are Arsenal collapsing AGAIN?
Arsenal’s gutsy 1-1 draw with Liverpool put Mikel Arteta’s men top of the Premier League at Christmas.
Now, less than a month later, they face Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon and retain a place in the top four on goal difference.
Rather than the signing of Declan Rice for £100 million being the final piece of Arsenal’s title-winning puzzle, weaknesses have emerged in other areas, leaving the Gunners off the pace after a run of one win in seven in all competitions.
Flying wingers Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have declined in form at the same time, meaning Arsenal are far from the irresistible attacking force of a year ago, especially with no goalscoring centre-forward left.
In this most competitive season, with Manchester City going for a historic fourth title in a row and Liverpool, Aston Villa and Tottenham all stronger, Arteta must solve Arsenal’s problems quickly.
The telepathic understanding between Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard has disappeared, writes Joe Bernstein
WINGERS ARE LOSING THEIR MOJO
Arsenal were at their most exciting moment since Arsene Wenger Invincibles, as Saka and Martinelli flew last season. But neither youngster has the same impact this time.
Martinelli scored just two league goals, compared to seven this time a year ago, when fewer games had been played due to the World Cup.
Saka is Arsenal’s top scorer in the Premier League with just six players, while every other team in the top six has a striker with more players.
The cheerful smile and swagger we associate with the 22-year-old on the field is temporarily gone. Opponents have made plans to combat him and Martinelli after surprising them with their pace and direct approach last season.
Teams have doubled down on Saka and the rough physical treatment he is receiving has led to complaints.
The telepathic understanding he had with skipper Martin Odegaard last season has also disappeared with the Norwegian playmaker, another who has gone off the boil.
Although Arsenal rank high in expected goals, they have scored at least six fewer than City, Liverpool, Villa and Spurs. Even Brighton and Newcastle lower down the table have more goals.
The 2-0 home defeat to West Ham summed up the recent malaise. Arsenal had 30 shots without scoring on the night and both Martinelli and Saka were guilty of missed chances.
Winger Gabriel Martinelli has two league goals, compared to seven this time a year ago
Asked if Arsenal can win the title, Mikel Arteta said: ‘If we don’t improve in the boxes, no’
Given the amount of football the pair have played in recent years – they have barely missed a match for their club and represent their country England and Brazil – Arsenal fans will be hoping that the fortnight off after their FA Cup loss to Liverpool recharges the batteries have reignited.
They looked unusually lethargic after the latest losses to Fulham and Liverpool. The burden of a Champions League campaign has also taken its toll.
Arteta is not hiding from the problems. When asked whether his team can win the title, he replied sharply: “If we don’t improve in the boxes, no.”
The fact that the young wingers are being asked to play through their thin areas indicates that the manager is not convinced of the alternatives. Leandro Trossard is a very different type of player, Fabio Vieira’s Arsenal career is failing to take off and Arteta sees Reiss Nelson as an impact replacement.
Arteta could get the left-footed Saka and Martinelli to switch flanks to freshen things up, but is reluctant to do so. Saka’s signature move is to cut in from the right flank and try to deflect a shot into the far corner.
BIG HOLE AT NO9
When Saka, Martinelli and Odegaard contribute goals, there is less pressure on the centre-forward to be productive.
But with goals in other areas having dried up, the onus falls on Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah, and they have failed to deliver. Calls to sign Brentford’s Ivan Toney are growing.
Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah failed to deliver. The call to sign Ivan Toney is growing
Everyone appreciates Jesus’ combination of play and work rate, but his record of seven goals in 25 games this season is not what is required of a number 9 in a team with title pretensions.
Nketiah’s output has been affected by his playing a small role. He is a more natural finisher than Jesus and has scored just twice in his last 23 appearances, many of them from the bench.
HAVERTZ IS NOT XHAKA
The much-maligned Granit Xhaka has been missed this season. Havertz was recruited at great cost by Chelsea and asked to play on the left side of midfield in a 4-3-3 situation, but he is so different from Xhaka that Arsenal have lost some of his fluency.
Havertz has his assets and is strong in the air, but he is not as technically composed and cannot provide the front three with the service that Xhaka did.
PARTEY INJURY
With Declan Rice signed for a record fee, there were many who had already written off Thomas Party’s Arsenal career.
But if the Ghanaian is back from a long-term thigh problem – and there are indications he is not close to a return – it could give Rice the space to get forward and use his athleticism half more often in opposition.
Rice has been criticized throughout his career for a lack of goals and assists, but that may mainly be due to a lack of chances.
Kai Havertz cannot provide the same service to the front three as Granit Xhaka
Having Thomas Partey back could give Declan Rice time to plunder forward and score
He has already shown an eye for goal during his short spell at Arsenal, his last-minute winner at Luton after high-profile strikes against Chelsea and Manchester United.
Arteta has been unlucky with his big defensive signing Jurrien Timber missing due to injury, although he has recently returned to training.
The debate surrounding Arsenal’s number one goalkeeper has been a distraction for the team
GOALKEEPER CONUNDRUM
Some of the tension has dissipated from David Raya, but there is no doubt that the debate over who is Arsenal’s No. 1 has diverted attention from the team, with Aaron Ramsdale a popular figure within and outside the club.
Arsenal have looked solid defensively, but that is largely down to the acquisition of Rice. Arteta’s dream of being a slick Raya passing machine at the back hasn’t really paid off. His mistakes against Lens, Chelsea and Luton cost goals and he was lucky to get away with a sloppy kick against Manchester City.