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

Welcome to The Radar, a weekly Sky Sports column where Nick Wright delves into the most pressing stories in the Premier League, combining data analysis with expert opinion. This week's focus is on Arsenal's attacking woes, a player to watch, and a crucial reunion for Xhaka. Arsenal's recent Champions League quarter-final second leg against Sporting saw them rely on their defensive solidity to progress, but their attacking performance raised concerns. Mikel Arteta will be looking to address these issues ahead of their match against Manchester City on Sunday. Despite having a six-point lead in the Premier League, Arsenal's attack has been misfiring, and Arteta's approach has come under scrutiny. The team's reliance on set-pieces and lack of open-play chance creation have been questioned, and their defensive-minded approach has been criticized. Injuries to key players, including Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, have limited Arteta's options, and the need for changes in forward areas has become increasingly evident. The front three of Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli, and Viktor Gyokeres has not been effective, and their selection has left Arsenal struggling to retain possession high up the pitch. 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, and their struggles with ball retention were evident in the game against Sporting. The introduction of substitutes, including Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Jesus, brought more control to the game, and their technical quality allowed Arsenal to play in Sporting's half during the closing stages. Arteta may be forced to make changes to his team selection, with Madueke a doubt for Sunday's game, and Dowman could be an option. Havertz, who has endured an injury-hit season, can provide the outlet Arsenal has been lacking, and his effectiveness as a focal point was evident against Sporting. His aerial ability and ball retention skills make him a better targetman than Gyokeres, and his deployment up front on Sunday could help give Arsenal's attack the balance it has been lacking. Manchester City's quality will inevitably force Arsenal to defend for periods of the game, but raising the technical level of their attack could be key to emerging with a positive result. Other stories in the Premier League include Sunderland's preparations to face Aston Villa, with Granit Xhaka set to face his former manager Unai Emery, and Chelsea loanee Tyrique George's potential to exploit Liverpool's vulnerability to counter-attacks.