The advantage from the first leg against Sporting CP helps Arsenal to rely more on the defense in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. After recent signs of instability, regaining certainty has helped them win tickets to the semi-finals.
Coach Mikel Arteta expects the team to maintain that stability when facing Manchester City. However, the performance against Sporting also clearly exposed the problem in the attack, when Arsenal is still ineffective in finishing.
Despite leading the Premier League with a safe distance, Arsenal can hardly aim for positive results if they do not improve their attacking ability. Arteta's approach is being questioned. Will caution make the team lose creativity and speed in their playing style?
Creating opportunities from live balls seems to be limited, while "The Gunners" are increasingly dependent on set pieces and the solidity of the defense.
Personnel factors also significantly affect. Bukayo Saka is absent, while Martin Odegaard leaves open the possibility of playing, making the attacking problem even more difficult.
In the last 2 matches, Arteta used the trio Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli and Viktor Gyokeres, but this combination has not been effective. Arsenal has only won 2 out of 6 matches when this trio started together.
Although all three are dangerous when accelerating or exploiting space behind the opponent's defense - contributing a total of 36 goals this season - but the lack of ball control makes it difficult for Arsenal to control the game in the high area.
Declan Rice admitted that the team needs to improve basic details: "We lack clarity in the final attacking area.
Statistics show that Gyokeres has difficulty keeping the ball, with a high loss rate (43.5%). Martinelli and Madueke are also in the group of players who lose the ball the most, while Man City has no player exceeding the 30% mark.
Change only comes when Arteta adjusts his personnel. Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard, Max Dowman and Gabriel Jesus help Arsenal control the ball better with a passing accuracy rate of up to 89%.
Arsenal may need a similar defensive formation when playing away at the Etihad, especially after being pressed in the second half of the Carabao Cup final against Man City.
Coach Pep Guardiola's pressing method is also a difficult problem. Man City's forwards often retreat deep, block the midfield and force Arsenal to play long balls - which is not suitable for Gyokeres.
Arteta may have to change the squad, especially when Madueke has a knee problem. In that context, Havertz may be an important option. The German midfielder has shown his value when playing like a false number 9 against Sporting. In 35 minutes, he won the most aerial duels and contributed positively to the overall play.
Havertz has proven his ability in this role, especially in the 5-1 victory over Man City last season, when he both assisted and scored, and played the role of connecting the playing style.
Using Havertz in the striker position can help Arsenal balance more in attack, and also create a backup plan when Gyokeres comes on as a substitute.
Against a Man City with superior class, Arsenal will need solidity in defense. However, the ability to improve the quality of attack - within the existing force - will be the key for them to aim for a positive result.
