Arteta left to search for solutions as Arsenal sink at Fulham،
LONDON — If 2023 was the year in which Arsenal proved unable to keep up the pace as favorites, their resolution for the new year must be to thrive in the role of chaser.
A 2-1 defeat at Fulham on the final day of the calendar year extends a poor run of form to just one win in five Premier League games, as the team fell from first to fourth in a shaky final reminiscent of last season's title race. -In.
Manchester City are serial winners over course and distance, and so it seemed vital to Arsenal's chances of winning a first title since 2004 that they build another substantial lead this time around, which form and City's commitment to the FIFA Club World Cup has given. their rivals the chance to do so.
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While Liverpool – and, remarkably, Aston Villa – have benefited, the Gunners' pace has abandoned them with results elsewhere, leaving them now below City on goal difference and firmly in a battle five for a place in the UEFA Champions League. not to mention the title of champion.
“We have to look in the mirror because today's performance is the worst we have played all season, that's for sure,” Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said. “A painful and sad day, that’s how I would sum it up.
“We were fortunate to be top of the table after 20 matches with the consistency we showed. We failed to earn the right to win the match. Three days ago we lost a match. [against West Ham] that we deserved to win; today was a very different story.
“[Against West Ham] we didn't put the ball in the back of the net and they scored the way they did. It's good. Today the overall performance was more worrying.”
The situation is far from lost given almost half of the season remains, but the problems are piling up for Arteta, who must struggle with the fact that his team are 10 points worse off than 'at the same stage last season.
One of the main reasons for this is the regression towards the mean in the collective production of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Ødegaard. This trio was superb last season masking the absence of a prolific number 9 in a way that is naturally proving difficult to replicate.
Eddie Nketiah was a peripheral presence after replacing Gabriel Jesus in the starting lineup, registering just 24 touches and completing just eight passes – both were the fewest players from either team to complete 90 minutes.
Martinelli and Saka did a good job early on masking that anonymity by helping to give Arsenal the lead within five minutes. The Brazilian takes advantage of the space on the left to rush forward, cut inside with his right foot and shoot. Bernd Leno did well to stick out his left hand to save, but the ball fell straight into Saka's path, and he converted from close range.
Arsenal were curiously flat after that. According to Opta, Martinelli did not attempt a single catch during the entire match and Saka disappeared from sight.
A trend is emerging. Last season, Saka had 14 goals and 11 assists, with 11.45 expected goals and 5.81 assists. This season, he has seven goals (6.87 xG) and six assists (6.53 xA).
Martinelli has 15 goals (9.33 xG) and five assists (6.96 xA) in 2022-23. This season, he has two goals (2.51 xG) and two assists (2.87 xA). Ødegaard had 15 goals (10 xG) and seven assists (7.95 xA) last season, but four goals (3.93 xG) and three assists (4.33 xA) this season.
It's not necessarily a question of distinguishing between these three elements, because there are other factors. For example, Arsenal are suddenly vulnerable from set pieces, having conceded four times from corners in their last six league matches. But without Saka, Martinelli and Ødegaard producing at such a high level, it raises the question of whether they possess the attacking strength in depth to finish above City.
“We weren't good enough in possession, we gave away too many balls. We didn't have enough pace, not enough threat,” Arteta said. “Defensively, we were second. We couldn't control the direct play. It was so easy for them to get the first and second ball and have the opportunity to run.”
There was a lack of composure in their play in the defeat to West Ham on Thursday, and while the stats from that evening provided some mitigation – amassing 30 shots but failing to score – no hiding could not be found here.
Fulham were the better team without having to be at their best. In the 29th minute, Saka lost the ball cheaply and the home side pounced, Tom Cairney crossing at the back post, where Raúl Jiménez finished smartly to equalize.
The winning goal was calamitous but deserved. Willian took a corner in the 59th minute which Arsenal failed to deal with, throwing limbs at the ball half-heartedly and allowing Bobby De Cordova-Reid to finish from close range.
Arteta introduced Jesus and Reiss Nelson in response, but Fulham remained relatively comfortable and could actually have added a third when substitute Andreas Pereira hit the crossbar from a free kick in the 88th minute.
It was the first time in 48 matches dating back to New Year's Day 2022 that Arsenal had lost a league match after scoring the opening goal. This also happened against City.
Five games ago, Arsenal were six points ahead of City. They are now below them, with Pep Guardiola's side having a game in hand, at Brentford. City are not perfect, but they are excellent favorites. With no league games until January 20, Arteta needs Arsenal to regroup.
“We definitely need that reset after today because it's going to be in our gut for a few days,” Arteta said. “I repeat: the game against West Ham is very different, so you can move on. It's football, it can happen.
“What happened today can’t happen again because if you do that we’ll never have the chance to be where we want to be.”
