January 8th 2025.
Following Arsenal's defeat to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening, manager Mikel Arteta was quick to point the finger at the ball used in the match. Meanwhile, player Theo Walcott expressed his concern over the team's reliance on set-pieces, stating that it has come at the cost of their fluidity in attack.
The loss puts Arsenal in a difficult position to reach the Carabao Cup final in March, with goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon sealing the win for Newcastle in the first leg of their semi-final at the Emirates Stadium. Although Arsenal had their chances, with Gabriel Martinelli hitting the post in the first half and Kai Havertz missing a clear header in the second, they were unable to find the back of the net.
Walcott believes that the team's overemphasis on set-pieces is hindering their creativity and taking away from their trademark free-flowing football. "What worries me for them in this moment in time is they are getting excited about set-pieces all the time, instead of getting excited about free-flowing football, that is what Arsenal's known for," he told Sky Sports.
He went on to highlight the team's lack of ideas and confidence, stating that they seem to be playing to a system rather than playing off the cuff. This gives the opposition, in this case, Newcastle, an opportunity to get back into shape and defend effectively. Walcott also mentioned the lacklustre performance in the second half and how it deviated from their usual style of play.
Arsenal's struggles in attack have been further compounded by the absence of Bukayo Saka, who underwent hamstring surgery last month. Pundit Jamie Redknapp believes that Saka's pace and quality have been sorely missed, with the team failing to register a single shot on target in the second half. "Without Saka, they are toothless. They missed him so badly, and it showed in their lack of pace and quality. They didn't look like they would ever get anything," he commented.
Overall, it was a disappointing performance from Arsenal, with both Arteta and Walcott expressing their concerns over the team's overreliance on set-pieces and their lack of creativity in attack. The absence of Saka has also been a major factor in their struggles, and it remains to be seen if they can turn things around in the second leg of the semi-final.
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