Arsenal Facing a Significant Problem That Often Goes Unnoticed
Arsenal visited Fulham a year ago this month and suffered a 2-1 defeat. Fast forward a year, and the performance mirrored that encounter almost identically.
The Gunners have not significantly evolved over the past year. Manager Mikel Arteta spent the summer emphasizing his role in maximizing his players’ performance; however, there was a period when Martin Odegaard faced an injury, and a persistent call for a more traditional striker to step in for false nine Kai Havertz has been continuous.
As Arsenal struggled against a well-structured Fulham team, personnel issues became secondary: both teams faced challenges, especially with Joachim Andersen absent from the defense, and the north Londoners experiencing their ninth different defensive lineup in 15 games with Odegaard back in action.
Arsenal still face significant challenges against a mid-block – and until they rectify this, they won’t clinch the league title
There have been claims that Martin Odegaard is the ultimate solution for Arsenal; that his influence is comparable to Rodri. However, Fulham showcased that the Gunners’ issues run much deeper.
Just like last season, Marco Silva structured his team into a compact mid-block and aimed to counter-attack against the visitors in transition. Arteta referred to them as “well-organised” in his post-game remarks. In reality, his side had little defending to execute.
Typically, Arsenal’s two most creative players are positioned merely 10 yards apart, leaving the left winger isolated along the sideline. Without Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber was tasked with inverting from left back. Declan Rice had a few decent chances – as he did against Newcastle United – but he is not the box-crashing midfielder that one might desire those opportunities to fall to.
When the Gunners synchronize, they can be unstoppable, displaying fluidity in attack and offering a structure in which every player feels at ease. Yet, at times, opposing teams find it remarkably straightforward to thwart them.
Despite ongoing demands to invest £100 million in securing a leading striker, you sense that a simple overlap from a full-back could yield a similar impact: having Trossard, Martinelli, and Saka so distant from the box seems counterproductive. In this match, the absence of a left-footed starter on the left flank hindered the ability to stretch the play effectively.
The backline has been plagued by injuries, and Arteta has struggled to maintain consistency in his line-ups. For the second consecutive season, Marco Silva has easily garnered points against his team – even if Gabriel Martinelli hadn’t been ruled offside for a canceled winner, this recurring issue continues to cost Arsenal dearly.
Similar issues arose against Newcastle earlier this season, and could have against Manchester United had it not been for two additional set-piece goals. The problems persisted against Aston Villa, costing them last season during their run-in. With Brentford and Brighton looming before the FA Cup commences, the Gunners must identify solutions swiftly.
The dynamics within this team require attention. This is a concern that has plagued the Gunners since Granit Xhaka’s departure – and it once again threatens to derail their season.
