EPL: Arsenal's Title Hopes — Can Arteta Turn the Tide?

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal

Arsenal's Premier League title hopes hang in the balance. Analyzing Mikel Arteta's tactical decisions and player choices. Arsenal's defensive solidity isn't enough. Can Arteta unleash their attack?

Arteta should consider adjusting his tactics, including switching to a more attacking-minded approach and utilizing his squad's depth...

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal has been on a rollercoaster ride this season, with their hopes hanging in the balance. After a string of poor results, including a shocking draw at , the Gunners' chances are looking increasingly slim. Despite holding a 2-0 lead, Arsenal looked disjointed and vulnerable, allowing Wolves to claw back and snatch a point.

To avoid a catastrophic collapse, Arteta needs to address his team's defensive fragility and lack of composure. The manager has been criticized for being too predictable and relying too heavily on set pieces. Arsenal's inability to break down has also been a concern, with their top scorer struggling to make an impact.

Arteta should consider adjusting his tactics, including switching to a more attacking-minded approach and utilizing his squad's depth. Players like and could bring much-needed creativity and energy to the team. The upcoming against Tottenham presents a perfect opportunity for Arsenal to regroup and refocus.

The tension is palpable, and it's getting to the players. Arsenal's usually solid squad is looking shaky, with key players like David Raya and Gabriel making uncharacteristic mistakes, like that cringe-worthy mix-up that led to the equaliser.

Arsenal's recent form has been underwashing, with only two wins in their last seven games, allowing to close the gap at the top of the Premier League table. The Gunners had a great opportunity to build a double-digit lead, but now they're only five points ahead of City, who have a game in hand. This shift in momentum has put pressure on the team, and fans are getting anxious.

Mikel Arteta needs to find ways to get Arsenal back on track, especially in high-pressure situations. One area of concern is the team's performance late in games, where they've struggled to maintain their composure. Arteta should focus on building mental resilience and strategic adaptability to help his players feel more comfortable in these situations.

To address this, Arteta could work on improving set-piece defense, maintaining consistency in high-pressure matches, and enhancing goal-scoring efficiency. Additionally, he might consider adjusting his tactics to exploit opponents' weaknesses and boost squad depth to mitigate the impact of injuries.

's time as Arsenal's main striker showed he's a team player with great work rate, but fans have been longing for a more traditional, clinical finisher to lead the attack - something Havertz isn't exactly known for.

Viktor Gyokeres's £60 million transfer from Sporting CP to Arsenal hasn't quite panned out as expected. Despite his effort, the Swede's performances have been underwhelming, exposing shortcomings in his technical ability, hold-up play, physicality, and positioning.

Gyokeres has struggled to make an impact, failing to have a shot on target in 60% of his Premier League games. His eight league goals have come against relatively weaker teams like Sunderland, Leeds, Burnley, Nottingham Forest, and Everton, raising concerns about his ability to perform against top-tier opposition.

Comparison between Havertz's best season at Arsenal (2023/24) and Gyokeres this season | Opta by Stats Perform

's struggles with injuries have left him a shadow of his former self, and Mikel Merino's season-ending injury has further thinned out Arsenal's attacking options. This means Mikel Arteta needs to rely on Kai Havertz, who has his own injury concerns, to lead the line.

Havertz isn't the long-term solution, but he's currently Arsenal's best bet, offering more than anyone else on the roster. Arteta needs to manage Havertz's workload carefully and ensure he's fit for the crucial games ahead.

Arsenal's Attacking Wail

Arsenal's attackers are struggling to find their groove, with Martinelli, Madueke, Jesus, and Gyokeres all off form. Even 's been below par, and Trossard's inconsistency hasn't helped. Arteta's tactics might be part of the problem, failing to bring out the best in his players.

Saka's impact has been limited by Arsenal's tactics, with him often stuck out wide. Given he's their most potent attacker, it's surprising Arteta doesn't give him more central freedom to cause chaos near goal.

Saka spends most of his time hugging the touchline | Opta by Stats Perform

Arsenal's full-backs, like Calafiori, Hincapie, and , are often the ones creating chances, underlapping and popping up in the box. Meanwhile, wingers are stuck wide, not getting enough central opportunities. Arteta could consider giving wingers more freedom or using full-backs as traditional overlaps to support them.

This approach might help Saka and others get more goal-scoring opportunities.

Defensive Mastery

Mikel Arteta's pragmatic approach has yielded impressive defensive stats, with Arsenal conceding just 20 league goals and shipping four in the Champions League group phase. This solid foundation has earned them 13 clean sheets in the league.

Arteta's focus on defensive solidity hasn't stifled Arsenal's attack entirely, but critics argue it's time to unleash more flair. With a strong squad, can Arteta balance defense and attack to challenge for the top spot?

Arteta's tendency to be overly cautious can be a problem, especially when Arsenal needs to take control of games. and don't both need to start every match. Against Wolves, having Rice as the sole defensive midfielder and using two creative players upfront could've exploited Wolves' deep block.

This approach might've given Arsenal more attacking potency, considering Wolves weren't a threat offensively.

Zubimendi and Rice have been constants in Arsenal's lineup

Eze's struggled to find his feet at Arsenal, but maybe he's just been deployed wrongly. Pliving him in an advanced midfield role alongside Odegaard could unlock his creativity and add some much-needed flair.

This setup would let Rice handle the defensive duties, freeing up Eze and Odegaard to cause chaos. It's a risk, but bolder approaches might be what Arsenal needs to dominate games and avoid late-game scares.

Unused Depth

Norgaard's minimal playing time is surprising, given Arsenal's midfield workload. Bringing him and White into the mix could provide fresh legs and tactical flexibility, giving Rice and Zubimendi much-needed rest.

Zubimendi and Rice have been pillars of consistency for Arsenal, but maybe it's time for a breather. Given Zubimendi's recent dip in form, bringing Norgaard in against a weaker team could be a smart move.

Norgaard's experience and solid Premier League track record make him a decent option. The risk is minimal, and the potential reward is a fresher midfield and a chance to avoid fatigue.

Asked Mikel Arteta about Zubimendi & Timber playing the most minutes, fatigue & Norgaard usage @premierleague pic.twitter.com/n14h33jrz9
— Ray (@SirayahShiraz) February 20, 2026

Arteta should trust his bench more, especially in crunch time. Rice and Zubimendi have struggled late in games, and Norgaard's experience could help see Arsenal through those final 10 minutes. Similarly, Ben White's fresh legs could be a game-changer, given his minimal minutes this season.

White's 411 minutes are a stark contrast to the workload others have carried. With Timber also looking tired, it's worth considering rotations to prevent burnout and maintain momentum.

Using White more often would kill two birds with one stone – giving Timber a much-needed break and boosting Saka's game. White's overlapping runs and athleticism would complement Saka perfectly, recreating their successful partnership from previous seasons.

This tweak could inject fresh energy into Arsenal's right flank and alleviate some pressure on Timber.

EPL: Arsenal's Title Hopes — Can Arteta Turn the Tide?