In the 0-0 draw with Everton, Arsenal once again showed that they are having serious problems with creativity. Despite controlling the game and creating strong pressure, the "Gunners" still could not take advantage of their advantage to penetrate the opponent's defense.
In recent matches, Arsenal's opponents such as Everton and Fulham have chosen a focused defensive style of play, stepping deep and giving up possession. Against Everton, Mikel Arteta's side had 77% possession and made 682 passes, including 253 in the opposition half - their highest tally of the season. However, The Gunners only created 1 big chance and had 5 shots on target.
One of the core problems is the lack of creative, unexpected moves to break up dense defenses. Arsenal often play around the opposition defence but cannot find space in the middle.
Kai Havertz, the highest striker in the attack, has little space and opportunity to score. The German star had the fewest touches of any Arsenal player in the match, with just 38 touches throughout the 90 minutes and four in the opposition box.
Against Everton and Fulham, Arsenal made a total of 39 crosses from open play, but only 7 of them were successful. Continuous inaccurate crosses showed the "Gunners' lack of calmness". Especially in the final minutes of the match against Everton, Mikel Arteta's team seemed disoriented and crossed the ball in despair.
The high number of crosses is a testament to Arsenal's superior control but also shows the lack of effective attacking solutions. In the final minutes, when center back Gabriel Magalhaes stepped up as a striker, while Gabriel Jesus stepped back deep, the Emirates team's playing style was completely dissolved, losing the necessary harmony.
In addition, Everton succeeded in slowing down Arsenal's pace. The Toffees' midfield played enthusiastically, breaking the Gunners' high-speed passes. According to Opta, Arsenal's direct passing speed in the last match was the lowest since the match against Bournemouth in October - when they had to play with one less player for more than 60 minutes.
In 3 consecutive matches without scoring from open play, Arsenal made a total of 1,732 passes, 48 crosses and 39 shots, but could not convert their dominance into goals. The lack of pace and innovation in the playing style caused the team to fall into a state of stagnation.
Arsenal seem to be relying too much on Martin Odegaard's creativity. After a two-month absence due to injury, the Norwegian conductor returned and immediately made a difference in the first matches. However, his form has declined, possibly due to fitness issues and the pressure of his role.
Against Everton, Odegaard was substituted in the 62nd minute for tactical reasons. This is clear evidence that Arteta cannot put all the creative responsibility on his captain's shoulders forever. The 25-year-old midfielder did not create any chances in the match and the excessive expectations placed on him or Bukayo Saka became a huge pressure. Names like Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, Mikel Merino, Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard need to share this burden.
To fix the problem, Arsenal need to adjust both their tactics and approach to the match. Captain Mikel Arteta must find new creative solutions to break the opponent's low defense. Using more young players like Ethan Nwaneri could also be a way forward.
In addition, the main attacking players need to improve their form and understanding. better exploiting Havertz's ability to play in the box or taking advantage of Martinelli's speed will help Arsenal become more diverse and unpredictable.
