What's Behind Arsenal's Sudden Collapse and Can Arteta Reverse the Trend?

The Premier League title race has produced many memorable moments over the years, including Steven Gerrard's infamous slip and Kevin Keegan's despair at Anfield. Now, a Manchester City fan drinking from an Arsenal bottle in the Stamford Bridge away end may become a defining image of the season, as the momentum of the title race hangs in the balance. With City six points behind, their fan's actions seem to mock Arsenal, but history threatens to repeat itself. This time of the season is when Manchester City typically hits top gear, while Arsenal often falters. Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal's win percentage drops below 50% in April, and they have not won a game in this month for five years. After just three defeats in their first 49 games, Arsenal have lost two of their last four, sparking concerns about their ability to handle the pressure of being champions. So, what is behind Arsenal's recent slump, and how can Arteta stop the rot? One key issue is a tactical problem that has been exposed in recent weeks. Arsenal's players passed the ball back to goalkeeper David Raya 38 times during the 95 minutes against Bournemouth, highlighting their struggles with the opposition's press. Bournemouth's manager, Andoni Iraola, used a four-man press to shut off the middle of the pitch, forcing Arsenal to play out to a centre-back or go long, both of which gave the opposition a chance to win the ball back. This tactic resulted in Bournemouth's two goals, which came from Arsenal mistakes. Arteta had weeks to address this problem over the international break but has yet to find a solution. The four-man press is a tactic Arsenal have faced recently, and Manchester City used it to dominate the second half of the Carabao Cup final. Arteta's inability to overcome this tactical problem raises questions about his astuteness and ability to change the narrative. In contrast, Pep Guardiola has turned Nico O'Reilly into a goalscoring machine, just as he did with Josko Gvardiol two seasons ago. Arteta's tactical corner is under pressure, and the Bournemouth game revealed a reliance on set pieces for attacking play. There are also doubts about how Arteta has managed his squad, particularly with regards to midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who looks exhausted after playing more minutes than any other Arsenal outfield player this season. Meanwhile, Christian Norgaard has played just 995 minutes this term and is yet to start a Premier League game for Arsenal. Could Arteta have rotated his key midfielders more? The injury to Mikel Merino has put a strain on Declan Rice's workload. But perhaps the issue runs deeper than tactics. As Guardiola said after his team beat Chelsea, 'It is the mindset, not the tactics.' A worrying trend has emerged regarding Arteta, where he gives rallying cries to his supporters before big games, only for his team to underperform. Before the game against Bournemouth, Arteta called on fans to 'get up early, have an early breakfast, bring your lunch, bring your dinner, and let's all go together for it.' However, in all three matches where Arteta made similar pleas, Arsenal failed to score from open play. Arteta's justification for these outbursts may be honest and innocent, but they add to the noise and tension surrounding the team. Gary Neville noted that Arsenal's players are 'consumed' by the pressure of winning their first title in 22 years, which is causing them to become anxious and mentally drained. Arteta's restless nature extended to his team during the defeat to Bournemouth, where he made a triple substitution in the 53rd minute. Perhaps a calmer head would have kept one of the pacey Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli on the pitch, given Bournemouth's high line. When Arsenal don't win or perform to their potential, Arteta's rallying cry comes across as hypocritical. How Arteta fixes Arsenal's current predicament is both in and out of his control. The tactical tweaks needed to overcome City are evident, but they depend on players returning from injury. Against Bournemouth, Arsenal were without several key players, including Jurrien Timber, Bukayo Saka, and Martin Odegaard. At least four of them are guaranteed starters and bring clarity to situations such as building play out the back, which Arsenal are struggling with. This raises the point that Arsenal are in a good situation given their injury predicament. Before the March international break, no Premier League team suffered more injuries than the Gunners. While Arsenal's last four matches have seen standards slip, Arteta's side must remember what has brought them into their current position. The form going into the Man City match has not defined Arsenal's entire season, but the game on Sunday will be crucial in determining their title chances.