Welcome to The Radar, a Sky Sports column where Nick Wright mixes statistics with opinion to illuminate the stories that matter across the Premier League. This week the focus is on Arsenal’s attacking woes and the tactical options available to Mikel Arteta ahead of their showdown with Manchester City.
Arsenal entered the Champions League quarter‑final second leg with a cushion from the first‑leg win over Sporting CP. The Gunners leaned on their defensive solidity to protect the advantage and secured a place in the semi‑finals. While the defensive display was commendable, the match also underscored the persistent problems in the attacking third.
Their forward line sputtered, and the team struggled to create clear-cut chances. Arteta will be hoping that the same defensive discipline can be replicated against City on Sunday, but relying solely on a back‑four will not be enough against a side that can dominate possession and press relentlessly.
The Gunners sit six points clear at the top of the league, yet the margin is slim enough that a loss could tighten the race dramatically. Finding a way to generate reliable offensive output is therefore essential.
Critics have long questioned Arteta’s approach, suggesting that a cautious, risk‑averse philosophy may be sacrificing fluidity and creativity. Some observers argue that the manager favours set‑piece routines over open‑play chance creation, while others contend that Arsenal have become overly dependent on their defensive structure. The debate intensified after the Sporting game, where the lack of a coherent attacking plan was evident.
Injury problems compound the tactical dilemma. Bukayo Saka is confirmed to miss Sunday’s fixture, and Martin Ødegaard remains doubtful. The midfield’s ability to link defence and attack is therefore under pressure, and the forward line must step up. For the second consecutive match Arteta deployed a front three of Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli and Viktor Gyökeres.
The combination has produced mixed results: in six starts together the trio have secured just two victories, one of which came in the Carabao Cup semi‑final second leg against Chelsea and required a late substitute goal from Kai Havertz. While each player possesses the talent to threaten defenses—collectively they have contributed 36 goals this season—their simultaneous selection often leaves Arsenal lacking the technical stability needed to retain possession high up the pitch. Declan Rice summed up the issue after the Sporting encounter: “It’s about doing the basics better, the five‑yard passes we’re giving away too sloppily.” His teammate Martin Zúñiga echoed the sentiment, noting a “lack of clarity in the final third.” Statistical analysis supports these observations.
According to Opta, Gyökeres has lost possession 246 times in the Premier League this season, with a loss rate of 43.5% per touch—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, every Manchester City outfield player stays under the 30% threshold.
Gyökeres’ passing numbers also illustrate the problem: he completed just five of nine passes against Sporting. Martinelli and Madueke similarly struggled, mis‑controlling the ball 12 and 17 times respectively. The tide turned when Arteta introduced substitutes—Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard, Max Domi and Gabriel Jesus—who combined for an 89% pass‑completion rate, allowing Arsenal to dominate possession in the final phases of the match.
If Arsenal hopes to avoid a repeat of the second‑half collapse they suffered in last month’s Carabao Cup final against City, they will need that same level of technical proficiency at the Etihad. Pep Guardiola’s side excel at forcing opponents into long balls and exploiting any lack of composure in the final third. Their front four often sit deep, cutting off passing lanes and compelling the opposition to play into congested zones where a single mistake can be punished. Arteta now faces a selection conundrum.
Madueke is doubtful after sustaining a knee knock against Sporting, which may force the manager to reconsider the starting trio. Havertz, despite a season marred by injuries, could provide the target‑man presence that has been missing.
In the Carabao Cup final, Havertz struggled, but his performance against Sporting highlighted his aerial strength—winning three duels in 35 minutes—and his superior passing ability, completing 15 passes compared with Gyökeres’ five. When Arsenal faced Chelsea earlier in the season, Havertz was instrumental: he assisted Ødegaard’s opener, scored the fourth goal, and linked play by completing 26 of 28 passes.
Those numbers suggest that, when fit, he can serve as a reliable outlet for midfielders and a focal point for attacks. Deploying Havertz as a central striker on Sunday could bring balance to the front line, allowing Martinelli and Madueke to operate in more fluid, wide roles while Gyökeres becomes an impact sub who can exploit tired defenders later in the game.
Raising the technical level of the attack, even marginally, may be the difference between a narrow win and a costly draw. Leadership on the pitch has also been a talking point. Declan Rice has captained the side in the last two matches, while former captain Granit Xhaka, now at Aston Villa, prepares to face the manager who stripped him of the armband in 2019.
Xhaka’s recent form at Villa—helping them climb from the lower reaches of the table with an increased points‑per‑game average when he starts—underscores how a player’s confidence and ball‑playing ability can influence a team’s overall performance. Beyond Arsenal, the column touches on other Premier League narratives: Sunderland’s resurgence under Unai Emery, Tyrique George’s quest for minutes at Everton, and upcoming fixtures across Sky Sports’ coverage.
However, the central theme remains clear: Arsenal possess a solid defensive foundation and a comfortable league lead, but without a more reliable and technically adept attacking unit, their title challenge could be jeopardised. In summary, Arteta’s options are threefold: (1) adjust the starting front three to incorporate a more dependable hold‑up player like Havertz, (2) improve the passing accuracy and ball retention of the current forwards through targeted training, and (3) manage player fitness carefully to ensure that key attackers such as Madueke and Ødegaard are available for the decisive clash with Manchester City. By addressing these issues, Arsenal can transform their misfiring attack into a weapon capable of securing the championship.