Doubt of perfection
Not long ago, they were also mentioned as candidates for the four-time crown in the 2025-2026 season. They are a team that operates smoothly, accurately, almost without blemishes. But, what is too perfect is often easily suspected. And suspicion, finally, is becoming a harsh reality. Losing in the League Cup. Falling in the FA Cup. Now there are only 2 left - Premier League and Champions League, with opponents who do not allow mistakes.
In fact, Arsenal is still facing their biggest opportunity in more than 2 decades. The problem is that people seem to prefer to watch the Gunners fail rather than wait for them to succeed. Partly because modern football has become a stage of ridicule. Each stumble is rewinded, analyzed, and exaggerated. The joy is not simply from their own victory, but also because of the failure of others.
In that flow, Mikel Arteta became an image easily exploited. A stiff face, heavy eyes, the appearance of someone who understands the system he builds, but also realizes it is being challenged. Not because he is completely wrong, but because football does not always follow logic.
And that is the key point. Arteta's Arsenal is one of the most "structured" teams in Europe. Every movement is programmed. Every gap is calculated. They control the match by position, by tempo, by almost absolute repetition. When everything works correctly, Arsenal is like a machine - cold, accurate and efficient.
But the problem with machines is that they do not adapt well to chaos.
When the opponent locks down familiar options, Arsenal starts to slow down. More horizontal passes. Attacking phases become predictable. Not enough moments to break the structure, decisions going against the "script". Without Bukayo Saka in the best condition, their creativity is almost depleted. The decline in attacking numbers is not a surprise, but an inevitable consequence.
Standard still needs to... deviate from standard
Interestingly, when looking at Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, people still see a similar, but more flexible system. There, the structure does not eliminate personality. On the contrary, it creates space for personal expression. Or like Paris Saint-Germain, where improvisation is placed next to discipline, not eliminated.
As for Arsenal, at this time, it is like a "too standard" version. They do almost everything correctly, but lack a little deviation from the standard needed to make a difference. Like a Jackson Pollock-style painting painted by a machine, with color streaks in the right position but overall still lacking soul.
Perhaps that's why the rare instinctive moments become noteworthy. A young player, not completely systemized, enters the field and plays football with freedom. Not much, but enough to remind that football is not just something that can be programmed. Arsenal is not losing their bravery but reaching the limit of their own model. That is not negative, on the contrary, it is a necessary step to go further.
This season, no matter how it ends, is still a step forward. Not for titles, but because they have gone far enough to realize what is missing. A young team, a system that is being perfected, a coach who is still learning to balance control and freedom.
The rest, perhaps it's not about numbers or diagrams, but whether Arsenal dares to let their dream... become a little less perfect.
