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 the focus is on Arsenal's offensive woes and the tactical options Mikel Arteta has at his disposal as the Gunners prepare for a 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 foundation on Wednesday.
The team showed the resilience they have cultivated in recent weeks, using a compact shape to protect their lead and progress to the last four. While the defensive display was commendable, the match also underscored a lingering problem: the Gunners' attack is still failing to produce the quality chances they need against top‑class opposition. Looking ahead to Sunday’s showdown at the Etihad, Arteta will undoubtedly aim to replicate the defensive discipline that saw them through against Sporting. However, relying solely on a back‑line wall against a side that dominates possession is a risky proposition.
The real question is whether Arteta can unlock a more threatening forward line, or if the current lack of firepower will force Arsenal to depend entirely on their defence while hoping City slips up. The criticism of Arteta’s approach has intensified.
Some observers argue that his perceived aversion to risk has stripped Arsenal of the fluidity and creativity that once defined the club. Others suggest that set‑piece proficiency has been prioritized at the expense of open‑play chance creation, leaving the team overly dependent on defensive solidity.
The debate is further complicated by a spate of injuries that have limited Arteta’s selection pool. Bukayo Saka is confirmed out for Sunday, and Martin Ødegaard remains a doubt, narrowing the options in midfield and attack. A particularly glaring issue emerged in the Sporting match when Arteta persisted with a front three of Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli and Viktor Gyökeres. The trio, despite their individual talents, have struggled to gel as a unit.
In the six games they have started together, Arsenal have secured just two victories, one of which came against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi‑final second leg and required a late substitute goal from Kai Havertz. While the three have collectively contributed 36 goals this season, their simultaneous deployment often leaves the team lacking the technical stability required to retain possession in the final third.
Declan Rice summed up the frustration after the Sporting game: "It’s about doing the basics to a better level, just the five‑, ten‑yard passes that we’re giving away a bit sloppily." His midfield partner, Martin Zubimendi, added that Arsenal have "lacked a little bit of clarity in the final third." The data supports these observations. Gyökeres, for example, has lost possession 246 times in the Premier League this season, with a loss‑rate of 43.5% per touch – the second‑worst 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 player exceeds a 30% loss‑rate.
Ball retention proved especially problematic for Gyökeres, who completed only five of nine passes against Sporting. Martinelli and Madueke also struggled, mis‑controlling the ball 12 and 17 times respectively. The tide turned when Arteta introduced substitutes with superior technical profiles. Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard, Max Downey and Gabriel Jesus combined for an 89% pass‑completion rate, allowing Arsenal to dominate possession in Sporting’s half during the final minutes.
If Arsenal hope to avoid a repeat of the second‑half onslaught they suffered in last month’s Carabao Cup final against City, they will need that same level of composure at the Etihad. Pep Guardiola’s side excel at forcing opponents into long, low‑risk passes by positioning their front four to block passing lanes, a tactic that left Gyökeres isolated and unable to retain the ball.
Arteta now faces a selection dilemma. Madueke’s knee injury against Sporting makes his availability for Sunday uncertain, while the Gunners could benefit from the experience of Havertz.
The German, despite an injury‑plagued campaign, has shown he can act as a 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 versus 5).
Over his Premier League career, Havertz’s numbers consistently outshine Gyökeres in both duels and ball retention, confirming his superiority as a focal point. Havertz’s previous performances against Manchester City illustrate his potential impact.
He was instrumental in Arsenal’s 5‑1 victory at the Emirates in February, providing an assist for Ødegaard’s opener and scoring the fourth goal himself. He also linked play efficiently, completing 26 of 28 passes and winning three aerial battles – the highest tally in that match. Deploying him as a central striker on Sunday could give Arsenal the balance they have been missing, while allowing Gyökeres to come off the bench later in the game when City’s defenders begin to tire. Beyond personnel, Arsenal must raise the overall technical level of their attack.
Even with a six‑point cushion at the top of the table, a win against a side of City’s calibre will likely require more than defensive resilience. Improving the quality of short passes, reducing unnecessary turnovers, and creating clearer patterns of movement in the final third will be essential. The captaincy debate also adds intrigue. Declan Rice has worn the armband in the last two games, while former captain Granit Xhaka, now at Aston Villa, is set to face his old manager in a highly charged encounter.
Xhaka’s resurgence at Villa, highlighted by an increase in points per game from 1.0 to 1.5 when he starts, underscores the impact a confident, ball‑playing midfielder can have on a team’s fortunes. In summary, Arsenal’s defensive solidity has carried them this far, but to secure a positive result against Manchester City they need to address the inefficiencies in their forward line. Whether that means reshuffling the starting trio, introducing Havertz as a focal point, or simply tightening up the passing game, Arteta’s decisions in the coming days will be pivotal. The Gunners have the talent; they now need the execution to translate it into goals.