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

Welcome to The Radar, a Sky Sports column where Nick Wright combines data and opinion to explore key Premier League stories. This week, the focus is on Arsenal's attack, which continues to underperform despite their lead in the Premier League. Mikel Arteta's approach has been under scrutiny, with questions about whether his risk-averse strategy has compromised the team's fluency and flair. The Gunners' reliance on set-pieces and their defense has been notable, but against top opponents like Manchester City, this might not be enough. Injuries to key players like Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard have limited Arteta's options, and the current front three of Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli, and Viktor Gyokeres has not been effective. The trio's inability to retain possession and create open-play chances has been a significant issue. Gyokeres, in particular, has struggled with ball retention, losing possession 43.5% of the time, the second-highest rate in the Premier League. The introduction of substitutes like Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Jesus has improved Arsenal's control and technical quality. Havertz, who has had an injury-plagued season, could provide the outlet Arsenal needs, given his effectiveness as a focal point and his ability to win aerial duels. His deployment up front could help balance the attack and provide Gyokeres with opportunities to make an impact as a substitute. The match against Manchester City will be a significant test, and Arteta's team selection will be crucial. The Gunners will need to raise their technical level to emerge with a positive result. Elsewhere, Granit Xhaka's return from injury has been vital for Sunderland, who face Unai Emery's Aston Villa on Sunday. Xhaka's influence on the team is evident, with Sunderland's points per game average increasing significantly when he starts. The weekend's fixtures include Spurs vs. Brighton, Aston Villa vs. Sunderland, Everton vs. Liverpool, and Manchester City vs. Arsenal, all available to watch on Sky Sports.