Overcoming Arsenal's Hurdle: Can Arteta Break the Cycle of Failure?

The Premier League title race has yielded numerous iconic moments over the years, including Steven Gerrard's infamous slip and Kevin Keegan's despairing pose at Anfield. However, the recent image of a Manchester City fan taunting Arsenal with a bottle in the Stamford Bridge away end may prove to be a pivotal moment in the title race, as the momentum shifts. With City trailing Arsenal by six points, their fans' confidence is a testament to the ominous nature of the title race, where history seems to be repeating itself. This is the time of the season when Manchester City typically hits its stride, while Arsenal often falters. In fact, April is the only month where Arsenal's win percentage under Mikel Arteta drops below 50%, whereas City has remained unbeaten in this month for five years. Arsenal's recent slump has raised concerns, with the team suffering three defeats in their last four games, doubling their total losses for the season. So, what is behind this decline, and how can Arteta arrest the slide? Firstly, Arsenal's players seem to be freezing on the pitch, and there is a tactical element to their recent struggles. The defeat to Bournemouth highlighted the team's difficulties in dealing with the opposition's press, which is not a new problem for the Gunners. Andoni Iraola's four-man press forced Arsenal's goalkeeper, David Raya, to receive the ball 38 times during the 95 minutes, completely shutting off the middle of the pitch. This tactic limited Arsenal's passing options, making it difficult for them to build up from the back. As a result, Bournemouth's two goals came from Arsenal's mistakes, including a poor pass by Martin Zubimendi and a hurried clearance by Gabriel. Manchester City employed a similar tactic in the Carabao Cup final, dominating the second half and stopping Arsenal's ability to play out. Arteta has had time to address this tactical problem over the international break but has yet to find a solution. He needs to find an answer quickly, as a reunion with Guardiola's City is looming. This raises questions about Arteta's tactical acumen and his ability to change the narrative. In contrast, Guardiola has successfully transformed Nico O'Reilly into a goalscoring machine, a feat he achieved with Josko Gvardiol two seasons ago. What can Arteta do to turn the tide? The Bournemouth game revealed Arsenal's reliance on set pieces, with an open play xG of 0.19 against the Cherries. There are also doubts about Arteta's squad management, particularly with regards to Zubimendi, who looks exhausted after playing more minutes than any other Arsenal outfield player this season. Could Arteta have rotated his key midfielders more? The injury to Mikel Merino has put a strain on Declan Rice's workload. However, Arsenal's midfield has been overloaded with minutes, and now they are facing pressing opposition. But is there a deeper issue with Arsenal's play? As Guardiola noted, "It is the mindset, not the tactics." A worrying trend has emerged, with Arteta's rallying cries to the fans before matches not translating to success on the pitch. Before the Bournemouth game, he urged supporters to get up early and be ready for a big day, but the team failed to deliver. This has happened before, with Arteta's cries adding to the noise and tension. Gary Neville observed that Arsenal's players are not failing because they don't want to win but because they want it too much, causing their legs to become heavy. The expectation and pressure are taking a toll on the team. Arteta's restless nature was evident in his triple substitution during the Bournemouth defeat, which may have been premature. Perhaps a calmer approach would have been more effective. When Arsenal don't win or perform to their potential, Arteta's rallying cry comes across as hypocritical. Fixing Arsenal's current predicament is both within and outside Arteta's control. The tactical tweaks needed to overcome City are evident, but they also 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 these players are guaranteed starters and would bring clarity to situations like building play out from the back, which Arsenal are struggling with. Despite their injury woes, Arsenal are in a good position, and their last four matches do not define their entire season. However, the upcoming game against Manchester City will be crucial in determining their fate.