Can Arteta Break Arsenal's Curse?

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 over the Anfield hoardings. The recent image of a Manchester City fan drinking from an Arsenal bottle in the Stamford Bridge away end may seem trivial, but it underscores the momentum shift in the title race. With City trailing Arsenal by six points, their fan's provocative gesture is a testament to the ominousness of the title race, where history threatens to repeat itself. This is the time of the season when Manchester City typically hits its stride, while Arsenal often falters. Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal's win percentage drops below 50% in April, whereas City has remained unbeaten in this month for five years. Arsenal's recent slump has raised questions about their ability to handle the pressure of being title contenders. After suffering just three defeats in their first 49 games, they have doubled their loss count in the last four matches. So, what is behind Arsenal's decline, and how can Arteta arrest the slide? One key factor is the tactical element, as Arsenal has struggled with the press in recent weeks. In their defeat to Bournemouth, Arsenal's players passed the ball back to goalkeeper David Raya 38 times during the 95 minutes, highlighting their difficulties in building up from the back. Bournemouth's four-man press, which allowed Raya to have the ball while shutting off the middle of the pitch, forced Arsenal into limited options. This tactic, also employed by Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final, has proven effective in dominating Arsenal. Arteta has had time to address this tactical problem over the international break but has yet to find a solution. The pressure is mounting, with a reunion against City looming on Sunday. This raises questions about Arteta's tactical acumen and his ability to adapt. In contrast, Pep Guardiola has successfully transformed Nico O'Reilly into a goalscoring machine, a feat he also achieved with Josko Gvardiol two seasons ago. Arteta's corner is under pressure, and his reliance on set pieces for attacking play is a concern. The open play xG of 0.19 against Bournemouth is a tough ask. There are also doubts about Arteta's squad management, particularly with regards to midfielder Martin Zubimendi. The Spanish midfielder has played more minutes than any other Arsenal outfield player, looking exhausted. Meanwhile, Christian Norgaard has played just 995 minutes this term, 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. Arsenal's midfield has been overloaded with minutes and is now facing intense pressing from opponents. However, there may be a deeper issue with Arsenal's play. As Guardiola noted, "It is the mindset, not the tactics." A worrying trend has emerged with Arteta, where his pre-match rallying cries to the fans have not translated to on-field performance. Before the Bournemouth game, Arteta urged supporters to get up early and be ready for the match, but the team did not turn up. This has happened before, in matches against Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool, where Arteta's cries did not inspire his team to score from open play. Arteta's justification for these outbursts may be genuine, but they add to the noise and tension surrounding the team. Gary Neville observed that Arsenal's desire to win is so intense that it has become a mental and emotional drain, causing their legs to feel heavy. The expectation and pressure to win are palpable, and Arteta's restless nature has extended to his team. His triple substitution in the 53rd minute against Bournemouth, including the introduction of 16-year-old Max Dowman, may have been a panicked response. Perhaps a calmer head would have kept one of the pacey Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli on the pitch. 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 depend on player returns. 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 would bring clarity to situations like building play out the back, which Arsenal are struggling with. Despite their injury predicament, Arsenal are in a good position, considering they have suffered more injuries than any other Premier League team this season. While their last four matches have seen standards slip, Arteta's side must remember what has brought them to this point. The form going into the Man City match does not define their entire season, but the game on Sunday will be crucial.