Welcome to The Radar, Sky Sports' data‑driven column where Nick Wright mixes statistics with insight to spotlight the stories that matter across the Premier League. This week the focus turns to Arsenal, whose recent performances have raised questions about their attacking output and the tactical choices of manager Mikel Arteta. Arsenal entered the Champions League quarter‑final second leg against Sporting CP with a first‑leg advantage, allowing them to lean on a compact defensive shape on Wednesday. That pragmatic approach helped them navigate past a resilient Sporting side and secure a place in the last four.
However, the match also highlighted a persistent problem: the Gunners' offense is still struggling to find consistency and potency. Looking ahead to Sunday’s showdown with Manchester City, Arteta will undoubtedly aim to replicate the defensive discipline that saw them through against Sporting. Yet, relying solely on a sturdy backline against a side of City’s calibre is a risky proposition.
While Arsenal sit six points clear at the top of the league, the onus is on City to produce a result, and Arsenal cannot afford to depend entirely on their defence if they hope to emerge victorious. Arteta’s tactical philosophy has come under intense scrutiny. Critics argue that his apparent aversion to risk has dulled the team’s fluidity and flair, especially in open‑play situations. There is a growing perception that Arsenal have become overly dependent on set‑piece routines, while neglecting the creation of chances from sustained possession.
The question now is whether Arteta needs to overhaul his attacking blueprint or simply fine‑tune the existing elements. Injury concerns further complicate the picture. Key players such as Bukayo Saka are ruled out for the upcoming match, and captain Martin Ødegaard remains doubtful.
The forward line, in particular, has been exposed. For the second consecutive game, Artura started a front three of Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli and Viktor Gyökeres. The combination has produced just two wins in the six matches they have started together, and those victories have often relied on late interventions from substitutes rather than the trio’s own brilliance. All three forwards possess undeniable quality.
Collectively they have contributed 36 goals this season, and each can threaten a defence with runs behind the line or by taking on defenders directly. However, when deployed simultaneously they have struggled to maintain possession in the attacking third, often surrendering the ball in dangerous areas.
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 Arsenal have lacked clarity in the final third. Statistically, the problem is evident. Opta data shows Gyökeres has lost possession 246 times in the Premier League this season, despite only 566 touches, resulting in a 43.5% loss‑rate – the second‑highest among outfield players. Martinelli and Madueke are not far behind, with loss‑rates of 38.9% and 36.1% respectively.
By comparison, no Manchester City player exceeds a 30% loss‑rate, underscoring the technical gap. During the Sporting match, Gyökeres completed just five of nine passes, while Martinelli and Madueke each relinquished the ball 12 and 17 times respectively.
The tide turned when Arteta introduced fresh legs: Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard, Max Dowden and Gabriel Jesus collectively achieved an 89% pass‑completion rate, allowing Arsenal to dominate possession in the final stages and press higher up the pitch. This shift in control is precisely what Arsenal will need at the Etihad. In the Carabao Cup final a month earlier, City’s relentless pressure exposed Arsenal’s inability to retain the ball, leading to a second‑half collapse.
Pep Guardiola’s tactical setup – whether employing a high press or a more measured block – forced Arsenal’s backline and goalkeeper into a defensive posture, while his front four clogged the channels that Arsenal’s midfielders would normally use to transition forward. Gyökeres, in particular, struggled to hold onto the ball under such pressure. Given these observations, Artura may have to reconsider his starting XI. Madueke’s knee injury against Sporting leaves his availability in doubt, and the manager might need to rely more on a player like Havertz, who offers a different skill set.
Despite an injury‑plagued season, Havertz has demonstrated his value as a target man and a link‑up player. In the first leg of the Sporting tie, he not only scored the decisive goal but also won the most aerial duels on the pitch (three) and completed 15 passes – three times more than Gyökeres. Over the past two Premier League seasons, Havertz’s numbers in ball retention and aerial dominance consistently outshine Gyökeres, confirming his superiority in the role.
Havertz’s pedigree is well known: he was the match‑winner in Chelsea’s Champions League triumph over Manchester City and starred in Arsenal’s 5‑1 demolition of the same opponents at the Emirates in February 2023, providing an assist for Ødegaard and scoring himself. Deploying him as a central striker on Sunday could give Arsenal the balance they have lacked, while allowing Gyökeres to be used as an impact substitute against tired legs. Beyond personnel, Arsenal must address the broader tactical framework. Raising the technical level of their attacking play – improving first‑touch, quick passing combinations, and off‑the‑ball movement – will be essential against a City side that excels at pressing and exploiting defensive lapses.
Even with the inevitable periods where Arsenal will need to sit deep and defend, a more refined offensive approach could create the quality chances required to win a high‑stakes match. Another storyline this week involves Arsenal’s captaincy.
Declan Rice has worn the armband in the last two games, while former captain Granit Xhaka, now at Aston Villa under Unai Emery, is set to face his former manager. Xhaka’s return from an ankle injury has been pivotal for Villa, with the team’s points‑per‑game rising from one to 1.5 when he starts.
His influence on the pitch – more touches, higher pass counts, and a willingness to drive the ball forward – showcases the type of leadership Arsenal could benefit from if they can integrate his ball‑playing qualities more consistently. In summary, Arsenal’s attack is misfiring because of a combination of selection dilemmas, technical deficiencies, and a lack of cohesive pressing.
Artura’s options include rotating the front three, giving more minutes to a proven target man like Havertz, and emphasizing the fundamentals of short, accurate passing in the final third. If the Gunners can tighten these aspects while maintaining their defensive resilience, they stand a realistic chance of holding off Manchester City and extending their lead at the summit of the Premier League.