Key Takeaways
- Arsenal have led the Premier League since October but now trail Manchester City on goal difference.
- Arteta’s squad has scored 24 fewer goals than City; Saka, Ødegaard and Martinelli have only eight between them.
- Fans still back the coach, yet another trophyless season could force the board to review his project.
Mikel Arteta has tried bonfires, light bulbs and even a dog named Win, yet the Premier League trophy remains out of reach. After Wednesday’s 1-0 loss at the Etihad, Arsenal sit second with five games to play and a poorer goal difference than Manchester City.
The defeat summed up the campaign: plenty of effort, little cutting edge. Kai Havertz missed a late sitter, and Eberechi Eze was withdrawn moments after striking the post. Gabriel Jesus and Viktor Gyökeres have rotated up front without convincing, leaving the attack short of 20-goal firepower.
Creative numbers are down across the front line. In 2022-23 the trio of Saka, Ødegaard and Martinelli hit 44 league goals; this season they have eight. Saka’s sore Achilles may limit him further, so Ødegaard and Martinelli must rediscover their shooting boots quickly.
Off the pitch, Arteta’s early-morning shifts and detail-driven methods still win backing from the Kroenke family, but supporter patience is thinning. Another spring collapse would extend the club’s title drought to 22 years and raise fresh questions about whether the Spaniard can take the final step.
The run-in starts on Saturday against Newcastle at the Emirates. No more stunts, just wins: that is the only innovation left.