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The Gunners have struggled from open play in recent Premier League matches, which has become a cause for concern
Arsenal's hopes of mounting a successful title challenge have taken another hit after they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at home to Everton.
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Despite dominating possession and creating plenty of opportunities, the Gunners failed to find the back of the net at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal's struggles in open play
While the Gunners controlled much of the match, especially in the first half, they were unable to break down Everton’s resolute defensive setup.
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The Toffees, who had recently been on the receiving end of a heavy defeat to Manchester United, proved difficult to break down, frustrating Mikel Arteta’s men. What is becoming increasingly apparent is the stalling of Arsenal’s attacking play in open situations.
A closer look at Arsenal’s performance across recent seasons shows a worrying trend in their attacking output. After 16 matches in the 2024-25 campaign, the Gunners have scored just 29 goals, down from 33 in 2023-24 and 40 in the 2022-23 season.
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Their shooting accuracy and conversion rates have also dropped, indicating a significant decline in their ability to finish chances.
Are set pieces now Arsenal’s only reliable threat?
What is particularly concerning is that Arsenal have not scored a goal that did not start from a corner or a penalty in the Premier League since Kai Havertz’ goal in the first half of their win over West Ham, more than three matches ago.
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Arsenal’s success from set pieces has certainly been impressive, thanks in large part to specialist coach Nicolas Jover. However, their dependence on these set-piece routines is masking deeper issues in their attacking play.
As opponents continue to adopt more compact defensive structures, Arsenal’s inability to break them down in open play has become more evident.
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With the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea starting to pull away in the title race, the Gunners will need to find a way to revitalise their attacking game beyond set pieces if they are to challenge for the title this season.
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