Welcome to The Radar, Sky Sports' data‑driven column where Nick Wright mixes statistics with opinion to highlight the stories that matter across the Premier League. This week’s focus is on Arsenal’s attacking woes and the tactical options available to Mikel Arteta ahead of their crucial clash with Manchester City. Arsenal entered the Champions League quarter‑final second leg against Sporting CP with a comfortable first‑leg advantage, allowing them to sit back on a solid defensive display to secure a place in the last four.
While the backline looked reassuring, the performance also underscored lingering deficiencies in the final third. The Gunners’ attack continues to sputter, and the question now is whether Arteta can rectify the situation without overhauling the entire system. On paper, Arsenal sit six points clear at the top of the league, meaning the pressure to win rests more on City than on the Gunners. Nevertheless, when facing a side of City’s calibre, a lack of offensive firepower could easily tip the balance in favour of the visitors.
Arteta’s philosophy has come under intense scrutiny: critics argue that his cautious approach sacrifices fluidity and creativity, that set‑piece routines dominate the attacking blueprint, and that the team leans too heavily on defensive solidity. Injury woes have not helped. Bukayo Saka is confirmed out for Sunday’s match, and captain Martin Ødegaard remains doubtful.
The forward line’s problems were laid bare against Sporting, where Arteta persisted with a front three of Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli and Viktor Gyökeres. That trio has produced just two wins in six starts together, the only other success being a narrow victory over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi‑final second leg, which required a late substitute strike from Kai Havertz.
All three forwards possess genuine goal‑scoring talent – they have combined for 36 league goals this season – but fielding them simultaneously leaves Arsenal without the technical composure needed to dominate possession in the attacking third. Declan Rice summed up the issue after the Sporting game: “It’s about doing the basics better – the five‑yard, ten‑yard passes we’re giving away too sloppily.” His midfield partner, Martin Zubimendi, added that the team has “lacked a little bit of clarity in the final third.” The statistics back up the qualitative observations. Opta data shows Gyökeres has lost possession 246 times in the Premier League this season, with a loss‑rate of 43.5 % – the second‑highest among outfield players. Martinelli and Madueke are not far behind, with loss‑rates of 38.9 % and 36.1 % respectively.
By contrast, no Manchester City outfield player exceeds a 30 % loss‑rate. Gyökeres completed just five of his nine passes against Sporting, while Martinelli and Madueke each surrendered the ball 12 and 17 times in the same fixture. A change came when Arteta introduced his substitutes. Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard, Max Dowden and Gabriel Jesus collectively completed 89 % of their passes, allowing Arsenal to retain the ball in Sporting’s half during the closing stages.
Their technical proficiency proved decisive and suggests that a similar level of composure will be required at the Etihad to avoid a repeat of the second‑half collapse Arsenal suffered in last month’s Carabao Cup final against City. Guardiola’s side employed a hybrid pressing scheme that forced Arsenal’s back line and goalkeeper to act as a barrier, while the midfield was left with long balls aimed at Gyökeres, who struggled to control them. In this context, Arteta may be compelled to adjust his lineup.
Madueke is a doubt after a knee knock sustained against Sporting, and the decision on whether to start Max Dowden could prove pivotal. Havertz, despite an injury‑plagued season, offers a more reliable target man. In the first leg of the Sporting tie, Havertz not only scored the decisive goal but also won more aerial duels than any other player on the pitch and completed three times as many passes as Gyökeres (15 to 5).
Over the past two Premier League seasons, his numbers consistently outshine Gyökeres in both duels and ball retention, confirming his superiority as a focal point. Havertz’s pedigree is well‑known: he netted the winner in Chelsea’s Champions League triumph over City and was instrumental in Arsenal’s 5‑1 demolition of the same opponents at the Emirates in February 2023, providing an assist for Ødegaard and scoring himself while completing 26 of 28 passes. Deploying him up front on Sunday, even if only for a portion of the match, could restore balance to Arsenal’s attack and free Gyökeres to make a meaningful impact off the bench. Beyond personnel, the tactical nuance of raising the technical level of the forward line cannot be overstated.
Even with a solid defensive foundation, Arsenal will need to generate quality chances against a City side that excels at closing down space. Improving short‑passing accuracy, encouraging movement off the ball, and incorporating a more direct link between midfield and attack could be the difference between a narrow defeat and a hard‑won point.
Leadership on the pitch has also been a talking point. Declan Rice has captained the side in the last two games, while former captain Granit Xhaka, now at Aston Villa, prepares to face the manager who stripped him of the armband in 2019.
Xhaka’s influence at Villa has been evident; Sunderland’s points‑per‑game rise from 1.0 to 1.5 when he starts illustrates his impact. His ball‑playing abilities highlight what Arsenal miss when they lack a deep‑lying playmaker capable of dictating tempo. In summary, Arsenal’s attack is currently hampered by a combination of selection choices, individual technical shortcomings, and injury constraints. While the defensive unit remains a strength, the team’s ability to create and retain possession in the final third must improve if they hope to break City’s dominance.
Arteta’s options include rotating in Havertz for a more reliable target, managing Madueke’s fitness, and possibly giving Dowden a chance to add fresh energy. By addressing these issues, Arsenal can aim to convert their league lead into a decisive victory rather than merely relying on defensive resilience.