Watching Arsenal try to break down a deep defensive block is often a frustrating experience. Without their four main attackers—Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, and Gabriel Jesus—it feels more like watching a predictable simulation unfold.
Without at least one of those key players, Arsenal struggle to disrupt the expected pattern: the opposition sits deep, absorbs pressure, and Arsenal dominates possession around the box but struggles to create clear chances. When they do find a dangerous cross, a lack of instinct in the penalty area means the opportunity often goes to waste.
This was evident in their 1-0 loss to West Ham and again in their goalless draw against Nottingham Forest. Despite an improved performance, their lack of cutting edge in attack persisted. If Mikel Arteta cannot find a way to make Arsenal less predictable, their season could turn into a slow and painful grind.
The bigger worry is that Arteta may have already exhausted his tactical options since Havertz was ruled out for the season. In recent games, he has experimented with Leandro Trossard as a false nine, midfielder Mikel Merino as a striker, Raheem Sterling on both flanks, Oleksandr Zinchenko in midfield for the first time in three years, and even used Riccardo Calafiori as an advanced left-back.
Merino provided a brief spark against Leicester with two late goals off the bench, but in the last two matches, Arsenal’s attacking struggles have been glaring. No matter how much Arteta reshuffles his forward line, one piece always seems out of place.
Against Forest, Arsenal managed just one real moment of danger in open play—Calafiori twisting in the box to curl a shot off the post. That he ended the half as the most advanced player highlights the lengths Arteta is going to find a solution. However, Arsenal’s lack of pace and creativity makes them too easy to contain.
To make matters worse, Arteta had to substitute Calafiori at halftime due to a yellow card, wary of adding to Arsenal’s already concerning tally of six red cards this season. With no attacking reinforcements expected for at least four more games, this pattern could repeat itself several more times before the season ends.
After the match, Arteta confirmed that Martinelli and Saka would be out until after the international break, with the April 1 game against Fulham as their earliest return date. “They’ve been out for a long time, so we’ll have to integrate them gradually,” he explained, adding that Martinelli might return slightly earlier than Saka.
Arsenal have now failed to score in three of their last four matches. Arteta needs to find a way to inject some attacking chemistry as they prepare for a tough stretch against PSV in the Champions League, followed by Manchester United and Chelsea.
At the moment, opposing managers—like Forest’s Nuno Espírito Santo—find it easy to set up against Arsenal. Santo even switched to a back five, recognizing that Arsenal lack a true striker and that Merino drops into midfield, reducing the need for an extra defender.
One bright spot has been 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who was again Arsenal’s best performer before being substituted in the 77th minute due to cramp. His dribbling and creativity have outshone even captain Martin Ødegaard, and his ability to beat defenders has been one of Arsenal’s few attacking threats. However, his hesitation in front of goal is a reminder of his inexperience.
Opta stats highlight that Nwaneri has completed five or more dribbles in two of his last three appearances, making him the first 17-year-old to do so multiple times in a Premier League season since Raheem Sterling in 2012-13. When he was substituted, some Arsenal fans voiced their frustration, a sign of how crucial he has already become.
The fact that Arsenal are now relying so heavily on a teenager—who was meant to be gradually integrated into the first team—speaks to the desperation of their situation. Yet, despite their struggles, young academy forwards Nathan Butler-Oyedeji and Ismeal Kabia remained on the bench as the game fizzled out.
Has the time come for Arteta to abandon his attempts at makeshift solutions and give these young players a chance to inject fresh energy into the team? When asked, he acknowledged it as an option but insisted there were still ways to improve with the current squad, particularly in decision-making and execution in the final third.
Arsenal now sit 13 points behind leaders Liverpool, with an eight-point gap to fifth place—the likely final Champions League spot—and a 10-point gap to sixth. While they still have breathing room, their chances of catching Liverpool appear slim. If they don’t solve their goal-scoring issues soon, they could spend the rest of the season looking over their shoulder.