by Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal’s goalscoring issues are a psychological problem for his players after his side were again penalized for failing to convert their chances.
Arsenal’s 2-0 FA Cup defeat at home to Liverpool, who struck twice late in the second half, has now made Arteta’s side three games lost since Christmas.
Their inability to convert many goal-scoring opportunities has often been a problem in those games, with the starters once again wasting a series of huge chances against Jurgen Klopp’s men.
When asked if those missed chances are a mental issue, Arteta agreed and said his team needed the “reset” that the upcoming winter break will provide.
“Probably so [become psychological],” said Arteta. “Especially after today, more so than against Fulham or West Ham [Arsenal’s previous two losses] before that. That’s why I think we need a reset. This break is good. It comes at a good time.”
‘I have to stick with it and support them’
Arsenal fans could be heard calling for the club to sign a new striker during Sunday’s game, but Arteta warned it is “unrealistic” to expect a striker this month.
“I haven’t seen a team in the last six months that has produced what we have done against them [Liverpool] in the last two games,” said Arteta. “We have not capitalized. Not only today, but in the last few games as well. That’s why we’re not winning games.
“On merit, there is no doubt that we deserve the games but the results are very different. But when my team plays with that courage and attitude against probably the best team in Europe at the moment, in terms of momentum, what can I do but stick with them and support them?”
Arsenal’s problems in attack are made worse by another knee injury suffered by Gabriel Jesus, their star striker. Jesus has had two knee operations since December 2022 and has felt pain in that same knee for the past few days.
“We’ve done a scan that shows something,” Arteta said. “I hope it’s not a big deal. That’s the same generation he was [previously]so we couldn’t take any risks.”
Expecting to sign someone new in the January transfer window, Arteta added: “At the moment it doesn’t look realistic. It’s my job, and what we have to do is improve our players and try to get better results with the players we have.”
Gunners fire gaps
3rd min: Nelson through at the back after the ball over the top
Two players joined Arsenal’s rejuvenated side early on when Aaron Ramsdale picked out Reiss Nelson’s run between goal and centre-back with a fine long pass. It is not easy to control a ball from the sky and Nelson did well to bring it under his spell, but the angle was narrow and he could only find the side netting. Could it be that he was delaying and asking for a cut? It probably never took place.
Gold chance rating: 7/10
8th min: Nelson shot from the top of the box/Havertz curler
Neither of these efforts had much of a chance, but Nelson and Kai Havertz produced some rather vague strikes from distance when they could have been looking for a runner. Havertz’s effort was the best, trying to open up his body and curl a left-footed shot into the far corner, but it was comfortable for Alisson.
Gold chance rating: 4/10
11th min: Nelson’s shot blocked/Odegaard hits the bar/Saka’s chance
Three chances within 30 seconds, and the outcome of the game will remain in the memory of Arsenal fans. Saka and his teammates did well to force a high turnover from Joe Gomez, which put Havertz clean into the penalty area.
Could he run around the ball and try to beat Alisson with his left foot? It was probably a sound decision to play the cut-back, but Ibrahima Konaté produced a goal-saving block to deny Nelson.
Martin Odegaard then smashed a shot against the bar after threading his shot between four Liverpool defenders before Saka saw a right-footed shot blocked. Could he have moved the ball to the left and gone hard and low across the back?
Gold chance rating: 9/10
30th min: Havertz shot blocked
Another promising position in the penalty area for Havertz, but it took too long to assess the situation after receiving a forward pass from Odegaard. The Liverpool defenders managed to recover and deflect the ball into the arms of Alisson.
Gold chance rating: 6/10
38th min: Blank shot saved by Alisson
Perhaps inspired by Pedro Porro’s screamer across north London on Friday night, Ben White tried the sublime with a first-time shot that was beaten by Alisson. At least Arsenal’s right back hit the ball with more venom than most of their attackers.
Gold chance rating: 4/10
39 min: Havertz heads wide
Set-pieces have been a fruitful route to goal for Arsenal this season, and could have been so again if Havertz had found more purchase on the back post header than widely observed.
Gold chance rating: 7/10
45th min: Havertz delays
A highlight of Havertz’s performance in the first half was a moment when he was getting old enough to work the ball into a shooting position while in space on the edge of the box. By the time he pulled the trigger, the angle had narrowed and he shot straight at Alisson.
Gold chance rating: 6/10
50th min: Saka behind Gomez
A sharp run in behind the Liverpool defense to Saka netted Gomez, but again a promising position failed to turn out to be a goal for Arsenal. Would Saka cut more sharply across Gomez and force a defender or a Liverpool defender to clear him? He tried to turn and shoot with his left, but Gomez blocked him. The defense in this case deserves praise.
Gold chance rating: 6/10
58th min: Gabriel missed a header/Saka was going over
A well-worked set piece sent Havertz away from the Liverpool defence, with a chipped delivery well into the box. Should goalkeeper Gabriel have got his head or did he get a shout? Saka couldn’t get his leg around the shot and it narrowly went over.
Gold chance rating: 8/10
61st min: Saka fails to find Odegaard
Arsenal were almost looking for a stroke of luck as Havertz’s deflected cross almost curled past Alisson, who got his fingers on it. Saka only needed to direct the ball back across the goal for Odegaard with his right instep, but it went over the top.
Gold chance rating: 8/10
68 min: Martinelli hits Alexander-Arnold but there’s no tap-in
Symptomatic of Arsenal’s season, Martinelli managed to get the better of Trent Alexander-Arnold in the one-on-one duel without finding any Arsenal player in the six-yard box. Konate moved across to make a good save, but this was one of Arsenal’s best openings of the second half.
Gold chance rating: 6/10
91 min: Nunez almost scores his own goal
It would have been fitting if a game of so many missed chances had ended with two goals, and Darwin Nunez was not far away from Arsenal’s equalizer with a defensive header that went just wide.
Counting this as a chance missed by Arsenal is a different matter, but it shows that the story of missed chances was a first-half story.
Gold chance rating: 3/10
