Arsenal’s Toothless Attack Exposed Again – Why Arteta’s Side Still Look Miles Off Premier League Glory

The 2025/26 Premier League campaign has barely begun, but Arsenal already find themselves under the microscope – and not in a flattering light. Sunday’s narrow 1-0 win over Manchester United may have delivered three points on paper, but beneath the surface, it laid bare a deeper malaise that continues to haunt Mikel Arteta’s squad.

Dull Edge, Same Outcome – But for How Long?

• Arsenal may have edged past United, but their blunt attack raises serious concerns about title credentials.
• Arteta’s side continue to rely on set pieces and defensive resilience instead of dominating games creatively.
• With Gyokeres anonymous and Martinelli ineffective, the same problems from last season have clearly not been resolved.

Once again, the Gunners looked tactically constrained, offensively uninspired, and wholly dependent on set-piece routines to unlock a defence. Riccardo Calafiori’s winner, a scrappy effort pounced upon after a goalkeeper blunder, was yet another moment of opportunism rather than a testament to attacking intent. The actual numbers tell a damning story – Arsenal mustered just 0.41 xG from open play across 90 minutes. It’s a figure more befitting a mid-table side parking the bus away from home than a team supposedly challenging for top honours.

A Stagnant System, Unchanged Problems

Last season, Arsenal’s open play production was already cause for alarm – just 43.58 of their expected 60 league goals originated in fluid play. That trend has shown no signs of reversing. Despite bolstering their ranks with Viktor Gyokeres, whose arrival was touted as the missing link, the Swede was virtually non-existent at Old Trafford. No incisive movement, no real presence, and certainly no threat to the opposition. For a player billed as a game-changer, this was a concerningly forgettable debut.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Martinelli – once regarded as a potential world-beater – again faded into obscurity. His inability to impose himself on the left flank only adds to a growing headache for Arteta. Arsenal have no credible backup option in that position, and if Martinelli’s form doesn’t dramatically improve, they’ll continue to stutter in games where moments of individual quality are required.

Our Best Bet for Premier League Outright Market After Day 1

Defensive Solidity Masquerading as Control

It would be easy to praise Arsenal for their clean sheet and point to David Raya’s seven saves as a mark of defensive excellence. But that, in truth, is part of the problem. Arsenal weren’t controlling the game; they were clinging onto it. United unleashed 22 shots, with nine of those coming from Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo alone. Arteta’s side were not composed – they were reactive.

Credit where it’s due – Calafiori took his chance well, and Raya held firm under siege. But this is not a sustainable formula. Resilience can’t be the sole game plan for a team with title ambitions. Eventually, the inability to dictate play and consistently carve out chances will catch up to them – especially against sides who are more ruthless in the final third.

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Set-Piece Salvation: An Arsenal Identity Crisis

Arsenal are fast becoming a side overly reliant on set pieces to bail them out. Calafiori’s winner wasn’t the result of tactical ingenuity or sustained pressure; it was born from a goalkeeping error at a corner. This pattern is deeply troubling. While dead-ball efficiency is a vital weapon in modern football, it cannot be the primary route to goal for a supposed title contender.

Arteta’s refusal – or inability – to devise a system that unlocks teams in open play hints at a wider identity crisis. His teams often look well-drilled, yes, but also rigid and unimaginative. The creativity gap is real and unresolved. Despite heavy investment and several seasons at the helm, Arsenal continue to lack a fluid attacking mechanism.

Our Take: Arteta is Running Out of Excuses

Let’s not sugarcoat this – Arsenal, for all the plaudits about progress and promise, are no closer to being serious title winners than they were two years ago. Mikel Arteta has now had ample time and substantial backing to shape the squad in his image. Yet, the same criticisms that were valid in 2023 still apply. His game model is cautious. His attack lacks fluidity. And his side struggles to impose themselves in the most important games.

Against a United side still figuring out its identity under Ruben Amorim, Arsenal should have shown maturity and poise. Instead, they spent most of the match reacting to the hosts’ intensity and relying on Raya’s heroics to keep them afloat. The fact that United, who fielded a revamped forward line including Mbeumo and Cunha, looked the more dynamic outfit says a lot about where these two clubs stand stylistically.

And this isn’t just a one-off. Arsenal have become predictable. Gyokeres looked lost, but so did the system he was forced into. Martinelli’s form is declining without consequence. If there’s one glaring issue, it’s that Arteta’s coaching has reached a plateau. He can organise a defence, yes – but when it comes to constructing a team capable of dominating and scoring consistently against high-level opponents, the cracks are becoming too wide to ignore.

When Rebuilding Becomes Repeating

Across the league, clubs like Liverpool and Manchester City continue to evolve. Their squads change, but their style remains progressive. Meanwhile, Arsenal are stuck in limbo – not bad enough to collapse, but never quite convincing enough to inspire confidence. It’s a damning place to be: in the shadow of elite clubs, but incapable of closing the gap.

Arteta’s obsession with control seems to be stifling individual flair. Players like Gyokeres need freedom to exploit space and express themselves. Instead, they’re being shoehorned into robotic patterns with little margin for spontaneity. This tactical straightjacket is limiting not only Arsenal’s attacking returns but also their trajectory as a club.

✅Final Prediction and Suggested Bet

There’s simply no convincing evidence that Arsenal have addressed their long-standing attacking frailties. One set-piece goal against a shaky United side doesn’t change the fundamental reality – this team still struggles in the final third. Arsenal to fall short again in the title race, with Liverpool and Manchester City pulling away in the months to come.

Prediction: Back Liverpool/Man City Dual Forecast in the Premier League at 11/4
Rationale: Both clubs have settled systems, proven goal scorers, and have shown the ability to navigate both depth and injuries without a drop in performance. Arsenal, on the other hand, remain too reliant on defensive organisation and set-pieces to be considered reliable contenders across 38 games. Their blunt attack will cost them, as it always has.

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