Can Arteta Overcome Arsenal's Mental Block to Claim the Title?

The Premier League title race has produced many iconic moments over the years, and the latest image of a Manchester City fan drinking from an Arsenal bottle in the Stamford Bridge away end may have significant implications. With City six points behind, their fan's actions seem ominous, as history threatens to repeat itself. Manchester City tends to hit top gear at this time of the season, while Arsenal often struggles, with their win percentage dropping below 50% in April under Mikel Arteta. The Gunners have frozen in the face of being champions, suffering three defeats in their last four games after just three losses in their first 49 games. So, what is behind Arsenal's recent slump, and how can Arteta stop the rot? One tactical element is the team's struggle with the press, as seen in their defeat to Bournemouth. The Cherries' four-man press forced Arsenal to pass the ball back to their goalkeeper 38 times, shutting off the middle of the pitch and limiting their options. As a result, Bournemouth's two goals came from Arsenal mistakes. This tactic is not new, as Manchester City used it in the Carabao Cup final, dominating the second half by stopping Arsenal's ability to play out. Arteta has had time to address this issue but hasn't found a solution yet, which raises questions about his tactical astuteness. The team's reliance on set pieces for attacking play is also a concern, with an open play xG of 0.19 against Bournemouth. Additionally, Arteta's management of his squad has been questioned, particularly with regards to Martin Zubimendi, who looks exhausted after playing more minutes than any other Arsenal outfield player. The Spanish midfielder has played 3,751 minutes, over 100 minutes more than the next best in Declan Rice. Meanwhile, Christian Norgaard has played just 995 minutes, and is yet to start a Premier League game for Arsenal. Could Arteta have rotated his key midfielders more? The team's midfield has been overloaded with minutes and is now being overloaded with pressing opposition. There may be a deeper issue with Arsenal's play, as Guardiola suggested, '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, but the team fails to deliver. Before the game against Bournemouth, Arteta asked fans to 'get up early, have an early breakfast, bring your lunch, bring your dinner, and let's all go together for it.' However, the team did not turn up, and the 'big day' Arteta asked for did not arrive. This cry added to the noise and tension, which may have contributed to the team's anxiety and heavy legs. Gary Neville said, 'Arsenal losing on Saturday isn't because they don't want it - it's because they want it too much and their legs have started to get heavy.' The expectation and emotion surrounding the club may be consuming the team, leading to a mental and emotional drain. Arteta's restless nature was evident 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 players on the pitch. 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 also depend on players returning from injury. At least four of the injured players are guaranteed starters and bring clarity in situations such as building play out the back. Arsenal are in a good situation considering their injury predicament, and they must remember what has brought them to this position. The form going into the Man City match has not defined their entire season, but the game on Sunday will be crucial.