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 shed light on key Premier League stories. This week, the focus is on Arsenal's attacking woes and how Mikel Arteta can address them.

Despite their first-leg lead against Sporting, Arsenal's performance highlighted the need for improvement in their attack. Arteta's approach has come under scrutiny, with questions about his perceived risk aversion and over-reliance on set pieces. The team's lack of fluency and flair on the ball has been evident, and their defensive solidity may not be enough to secure a positive outcome against top-quality opponents like Manchester City.

Injuries have limited Arteta's options, but the need for changes in forward areas is clear. The front three of Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli, and Viktor Gyokeres has not worked, and their selection has left Arsenal lacking technical security to retain possession. The trio has contributed 36 goals this season but has struggled with ball retention, losing possession frequently. 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. In contrast, Manchester City does not have a single player with a possession loss rate over 30%. The introduction of substitutes like Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Jesus has provided a technical boost, allowing Arsenal to play in the opponent's half.

Arteta may be forced to change his team selection, with Havertz potentially providing the outlet they need. Havertz has endured an injury-hit season but has shown his effectiveness as a focal point.

He won more aerial duels than any other player against Sporting and completed 15 passes. His deployment up front could help give Arsenal's attack the balance it lacks. Manchester City's quality means Arsenal will need to fall back on their defense, but raising the technical level of their attack could be key to a positive result.

Other stories include Granit Xhaka's return from injury and his importance to Sunderland, Tyrique George's potential to exploit Liverpool's vulnerability to counter-attacks, and the upcoming Premier League matches, including the Merseyside derby and Arsenal's clash with Manchester City.