What Thierry Henry thinks Mikel Arteta has failed to solve at Arsenal for ‘a year’

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Arsenal’s lack of cutting edge in the final third cost them once again against Everton on Saturday.

Despite having a the majority of the ball throughout the match, Arsenal were unable to find a breakthrough against the Toffees, as they were held to a goalless draw at the Emirates Stadium. 

This result further damaged the Gunners’ title chances, and again underlined the problem Mikel Arteta now faces in making his side a potent attacking force again. 

Arteta insisted that Arsenal deserved to beat Everton, but until his team rediscovers its ability to regularly create chances and convert them into goals then disappointing results such as this one will continue to occur.

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Thierry Henry addresses long-standing Arsenal issue

Thierry Henry took aim at Gabriel Martinelli for his performance against Everton, criticising the winger’s decision making in front of goal.

The Arsenal legend, speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football (16/12/2024), called out the Gunners’ lack of variation in their attacking approach play, highlighting the fact that it has been a problem for some time now.

Henry said: “Well I think they’re very predictable, on the set-pieces you’re not going to say it’s not good to score set-pieces, it’s outstanding, I’m just saying the issue was in Europe for a very long time because it took us a year before the [Sporting] Lisbon game, the goal before that was Eindhoven away to create chances or even score, so it took us a year to score a goal away from home in Europe and now the last three you’ve scored in the league are obviously set-pieces.”

How can Mikel Arteta’s side create more chances?

Arsenal have been accused of being too reliant upon Bukayo Saka, with too much of their game plan revolving around giving the talismanic winger the ball. Whilst the England international is the Gunners’ most effective attacker, the predictability has become a problem. 

Arteta’s squad also lacks playmakers. Arsenal missed Martin Odegaard whilst he was injured, as the likes of Mikel Merino, Declan Rice, and Jorginho lack the Norwegian’s ability to carve open opposition defences. 

Arsenal need the likes of Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, and Kai Havertz to step up in the coming weeks, as the pressure is growing on the other attackers at the club to lend Saka more support.