January 19th 2024.
The recent performance of the Spanish team has caused them to slip down to fourth place in the standings. This has been a result of a string of less than optimal games. However, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta remains confident in his team and has spoken out in their defense. He believes that they are the strongest team in the Premier League in almost every aspect, with one exception.
On Christmas Day, the Gunners were leading the pack, but have since lost two consecutive league matches. In fact, they have only won one game out of their last seven in all competitions. Their current losing streak extends to three games, including their defeat at the hands of Liverpool in the FA Cup. However, they are determined to turn things around and will be facing Crystal Palace this Saturday.
One major factor contributing to Arsenal's recent struggles has been their lack of goals. Surprisingly, there are 16 players in the Premier League with more goals than the Gunners' top scorer, Bukayo Saka, who has only scored six times. Even the combined efforts of Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah have only resulted in eight league goals. Overall, the team has underperformed in terms of Expected Goals (xG), scoring only 37 times out of a predicted 40.56.
Despite these challenges, Arteta remains supportive of his team and their efforts. He believes that they are doing everything right, but need to improve their finishing skills. "You look at all the data and it is Arsenal, Arsenal, Arsenal at the top," he stated confidently before their upcoming match against Crystal Palace.
In order to regroup and refocus, Arsenal recently spent a week in Dubai for a warm-weather training camp. Arteta acknowledges that there are underlying issues that need to be addressed in order for the team to succeed. He compares it to peeling back layers of an onion to get to the root of the problem. "The first layer, second layer... we have to go to the bottom of it to understand what is making us win or lose," he explained.
When asked if Arsenal is the best team in the league in every aspect except for finishing, Arteta responded, "If you look at it from that perspective, objectively what we are producing, the answer clearly is yes." He remains optimistic about their potential and is determined to get back to winning ways.
"We better start to pick up points, that is for sure," Arteta stated. "If we want to be up there, we have to consistently have three points on the board." He emphasized the importance of minimizing slip-ups at this level and is focused on turning things around. However, he recognizes that the ultimate goal is to win games, something that Arsenal has struggled with recently.
Despite their efforts and strategies, Arsenal has not been able to secure the wins they desire. "We have done a lot of things to try to do that and to produce as much as possible in the games," Arteta explained. "But in the end, you have to win the games and that hasn't happened." He remains determined to find a solution and get his team back on track.
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