What's Behind Arsenal's Struggling Attack and How Can Arteta Revive It?

Welcome to The Radar, a column by Sky Sports where Nick Wright uses data and opinion to explore key stories from the Premier League. This week, we examine Arsenal's issues in attack and a potential reunion between Xhaka and Emery. Arsenal's lead against Sporting allowed them to focus on defense in their Champions League quarter-final second leg, showcasing solidity but also highlighting the need for improvement in attack. Mikel Arteta hopes to see the same defensive solidity against Manchester City on Sunday, but their attack continues to struggle.

Arteta's approach has been scrutinized, with questions about his perceived aversion to risk and whether it has come at the cost of fluency and flair. Personnel is another factor, with injuries limiting Arteta's options.

The front three of Madueke, Martinelli, and Gyokeres has not worked, and their selection leaves Arsenal lacking technical security to retain possession. According to Opta, Gyokeres has lost possession 246 times in the Premier League, with a high rate of touches ending in possession losses.

Martinelli and Madueke also rank high on the list. Manchester City, by contrast, do not have a single player over the 30 percent mark.

The game changed with Arsenal's substitutions, with players like Havertz, Trossard, and Jesus completing a high percentage of passes and allowing Arsenal to play in Sporting's half. Arteta's hand may be forced on team selection, with Madueke a doubt and Dowman potentially starting.

Havertz can provide an outlet, having endured an injury-hit season but showing effectiveness as a focal point against Sporting. He won more aerial duels and completed more passes than Gyokeres. Factoring in the last two seasons, Havertz's superiority to Gyokeres in duels and ball retention is clear. His deployment up front on Sunday could help give Arsenal's attack balance and provide Gyokeres with a chance to make an impact as a substitute.

Manchester City's quality means Arsenal will need to fall back on their defense, but raising the technical level of their attack could hold the key to a positive result. Other stories include Sunderland's run of form, with Xhaka's return from injury a significant factor, and Chelsea loanee Tyrique George's potential to exploit Liverpool's vulnerability to counter-attacks.