We have entered the new years, Arsenal fans have again found themselves scratching their heads over their team’s performances. Entering the Christmas period, the Gunners were sitting at the top of the table, while Liverpool and Manchester City were trying to keep up. However, as we emerge from the heavily loaded match period, they now find themselves in fourth place, glancing over their shoulders at a Spurs team just one point behind them in fifth, despite grappling with injuries. Is this just a customary loss of form that every team experiences, or is there a deeper reason behind the recent lackluster performances?
Despite a promising points return halfway through the campaign, many Arsenal fans feel this is not the familiar team they knew in the 22/23 season. Last season's free-flowing, expansive football under Mikel Arteta has given way to a more rigid and structured approach, resembling Guardiola’s Man City. This shift has adversely affected the team's goal-scoring output. At this stage, Arsenal averages 1.85 goals per game, notably less than the 2.31 goals per game at the same point last season.
Key players like Odegaard, Saka, and Martinelli, who finished last season with 15 goals each, now find themselves with reduced goal tallies of 6, 4, and 2, respectively, at the halfway stage.
Eddie Nketiah has 5 goals, and Gabriel Jesus has 3. The Arsenal attack has squandered significant chances, leading to narrow victories, including the 3-2 away win at Luton secured by a last-minute winner from Declan Rice. Gabriel Jesus admitted that goal-scoring isn't his strong point, despite being Arsenal’s main striker. With the decline in goals, the Gunners have also seen a dip in points, going winless in their last 7 matches, suggesting a potential mini-crisis.
Mikel Arteta's summer signings have faced scrutiny, especially the £65 million acquisition of Kai Havertz. Despite an underwhelming stint at Chelsea,
Havertz's lethargic play style contrasts starkly with Granit Xhaka's dynamic performances last season. The German's limited involvement has hindered Arsenal's ability to build up with the same fluidity. Dimitar Berbatov praised Havertz as an heir to his playstyle, but unlike Berbatov's moments of magic, Havertz's performances have left Arsenal fans frustrated, questioning the hefty investment.
The signing of David Raya has added to the confusion, with debates over the No.1 jersey between Raya and Aaron Ramsdale causing potential unrest in the once-settled Arsenal dressing room. The unnecessary goalkeeper debate has raised concerns among fans about its impact on team harmony.
Now, over a week into the January window, Arsenal is in the window looking to rectify the issues they currently face. The two main players being linked to The Emirates are Everton’s Amadou Onana and Brentford’s Ivan Toney. However, neither player will come cheap, with the players’ clubs quoting £60 million and £100 million respectively. With the FFP limitations Arsenal faces, there is no doubt that Arsenal will have to sell before bringing anyone in, and one player who could be out the door is Eddie Nketiah, who is being linked with a £40 million move to Crystal Palace.
However, despite being knocked out of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, Arsenal still finds themselves only 5 points behind league leaders Liverpool and still in the running for the Champions League. This January window will be crucial for them if they want to put this poor patch of form behind them, and any silverware at the end of the season will allow fans to dub this period as just a blip in their campaign