Welcome to The Radar, a Sky Sports column where Nick Wright combines data and opinion to shed light on key stories from the Premier League. This week, we examine Arsenal's issues in attack, a reunion between Xhaka and Emery, and a player to watch. Arsenal's first-leg lead against Sporting allowed them to focus on defense in the Champions League quarter-final second leg, showcasing a return to solidity that helped them advance.
However, their attack continues to struggle. Mikel Arteta hopes to see the same defensive solidity against Manchester City on Sunday, but their performance against Sporting highlighted the need for improvement in attack. Arteta's approach has been scrutinized, with some questioning whether his risk-averse strategy has come at the cost of flair and fluency. Personnel is also a factor, with injuries limiting Arteta's options and the need for changes in forward areas becoming increasingly clear.
The front three of Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli, and Viktor 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 this season, with a high rate of touches ending in possession losses. Martinelli and Madueke also rank high on this list.
The game changed with Arsenal's substitutions, with players like Havertz, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Jesus completing a high percentage of their passes and allowing Arsenal to play in Sporting's half. Arteta may be forced to change his team selection, with Dowman potentially coming in and Havertz providing an outlet that Arsenal lacked. Havertz has endured an injury-hit season but showed his effectiveness as a focal point against Sporting, winning aerial duels and completing passes.
He could give Arsenal the balance they need in attack. Manchester City need no reminder of what Havertz can do, having been on the receiving end of his goals in the past. His deployment up front on Sunday could help give Arsenal's attack the balance it has lacked. Meanwhile, Granit Xhaka is preparing to face Unai Emery, the manager who stripped him of the captaincy in 2019.
Sunderland have claimed another big scalp in beating Spurs and are on a run of three wins from four in the Premier League, with Xhaka's return from injury being a significant factor in their upturn in form.