Mikel Arteta has hinted that Arsenal’s recent struggles to score might be more than just a tactical issue, potentially evolving into a mental obstacle after their disappointing 2-0 loss to Liverpool in the FA Cup. This defeat followed a string of underwhelming performances, including a winless streak of four games, with Arteta mentioning that even though there are talks about recruiting Ivan Toney from Brentford, solving their scoring problems through transfers might not be the immediate solution.
The Spanish manager stressed the importance of his team ‘resetting’ mentally during a 13-day gap between fixtures and acknowledged that the recent goal drought might have taken a toll on the players’ psychology, especially after lackluster displays against Fulham and West Ham. Arteta emphasized the upcoming break as crucial for regrouping.
Analyzing the Liverpool game, Arteta highlighted Arsenal’s superiority in creating chances but pointed out their failure to capitalize on them, emphasizing the difficulty of winning against top teams without converting opportunities. He also noted that despite deploying Kai Havertz in the central role, along with Reiss Nelson and Martin Odegaard, they couldn’t convert the promising opportunities created.
Despite ongoing speculation around Ivan Toney, Arteta clarified that a move for a striker isn’t imminent, reaffirming his dedication to improving the current squad. He commended the players for their effort, attitude, courage, and aggression but stressed the need to shift momentum, showing confidence in their capabilities and calling for unity and support during challenging times.
Looking ahead, Arteta stressed the importance of unity, trust in the process, and maintaining belief in the team’s ability to overturn the situation. He reassured fans that results and enjoyment will come while emphasizing the necessity of collective support and resilience during this testing phase for Arsenal.