Mikel Arteta faces a challenging week as he strives to maintain Arsenal’s momentum in both the Premier League and Champions League. The Gunners are set to host Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, looking for a confidence-boosting performance before a crucial encounter against league leaders Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
At the season’s outset, Arsenal’s defence was lauded as the best in the league, highlighted by clean sheets against Wolves and Aston Villa. They demonstrated remarkable resilience, notably salvaging a point against Brighton despite being down to ten men after Declan Rice’s red card. A stellar performance from goalkeeper David Raya helped secure a 0-0 draw against Atalanta in their first European outing.
However, recent performances have raised concerns about the team’s defensive solidity. After a solid start, cracks began to appear. The team needed injury-time goals to clinch a 4-2 victory over Leicester after letting a 2-0 half-time lead slip, and despite a decent home win against Paris Saint-Germain, they allowed struggling Southampton to threaten their lead, ultimately winning 3-1.
The worrying trend culminated in a 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth, where William Saliba’s red card in the 30th minute further exposed the defensive frailties that had been so effectively masked earlier in the season. The defensive resilience that once defined Arsenal’s game has seemingly diminished, raising questions about their ability to hold firm against tougher opponents.
Looking ahead to the clash with Shakhtar, odds suggest a potential for Arsenal to regain their form, with Kai Havertz priced at 9/2 to score first and the team at 13/2 to win 3-0. However, maintaining a clean sheet against Liverpool will pose a significantly tougher challenge for the Gunners.
Arteta must find a way to restore Arsenal’s defence to its earlier watertight standards to navigate this demanding period successfully.