Former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott highlighted the team’s growing dependence on set-pieces at the expense of their trademark free-flowing play.
Newcastle capitalized on a lackluster Arsenal performance, with goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon securing victory at the Emirates Stadium.
Despite Arsenal’s moments of promise, such as Gabriel Martinelli hitting the post and Kai Havertz missing a crucial header, the Gunners failed to break down Newcastle’s disciplined defense.
Walcott, speaking on Sky Sports, expressed worry about Arsenal’s lack of creativity. “What worries me for Arsenal right now is they’re excited about set-pieces rather than free-flowing football.
That’s what Arsenal’s known for,” Walcott observed. “They’re running out of ideas, playing to a rigid system, and giving opponents like Newcastle time to reorganize defensively.”
Arsenal’s attacking struggles were further compounded by the absence of Bukayo Saka, who is recovering from hamstring surgery.
Jamie Redknapp emphasized the significance of Saka’s absence, stating, “Without Saka, they’re toothless. There’s no pace, no quality, and they didn’t look like threatening Newcastle.”
The defeat leaves Arsenal with an uphill battle to overturn the deficit in the second leg if they hope to secure a place in the Carabao Cup final. However, the team’s current lack of fluidity in attack and over-reliance on set-pieces signal broader challenges that manager Mikel Arteta must address.
With the return of key players like Saka and a refocus on Arsenal’s attacking identity, the Gunners will need to rediscover their rhythm to achieve success in domestic and European competitions
