Arsenal are making key errors which have led to their latest setback but are still tipped to win Premier League title despite Manchester United defeat
14:00, 26 Jan 2026Updated 14:19, 26 Jan 2026
Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, needs to find a way to get the best from his wealth of attacking talent
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Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, needs to find a way to get the best from his wealth of attacking talent(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal dropped a title clanger on Sunday by losing at home to Manchester United - and Mikel Arteta's side were the architects of their own downfall.
The shock 3-2 defeat has sparked plenty of questions about the side's readiness and their mentality to win a title. After the disappointments of the last three seasons, the pressure is at an all-time high.
Despite the defeat, Opta still have Arsenal at 81.7 per cent likely to win the title, Manchester City at 8.7 per cent and Aston Villa at 9.4 per cent. That statistic is based on the games the title rivals have played so far and who they have left to face.
In fact, outside of future Champions League and FA Cup matches, Arsenal are due to leave London just four more times before the end of the season. That will drop to three once they face Leeds United at Elland Road next weekend.
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Arsenal’s remaining 15 opponents have an average points per game (PPG) of 1.26. Aston Villa’s is only slightly more challenging at 1.27, whereas Manchester City have the toughest remaining list with 1.38.
In regards to Arsenal's remaining Premier League matches and the PPG stats, Opta considers the home match with Chelsea (1.61) in March and the visit to City (2.00) in April as the hardest matches they have to come.
The others, based on their opponents' PPG average, are more favourable. As well as facing Leeds (1.14 PPG), Chelsea and City, they also face Sunderland (1.43), Brentford (1.43), Tottenham (1.22), Brighton (1.30), Everton (1.45), Wolves (0.35), Bournemouth (1.30), Newcastle (1.43), Fulham (1.46), West Ham (0.87), Burnley (0.65) and Crystal Palace (1.22).
Despite the statistics pointing towards a successful season for Arsenal, the questions and the scrutiny are at their peak for the current campaign. football.london discusses the things that Mikel Arteta needs to address in order to keep the title bid on track...
Back to basics
Arsenal need to rediscover their composure and their form; they need to lean into their strengths again. This season they've shown that they can be the best in the league - now they need to prove it again.
The physical battle should never be a contest, and with the passing prowess on this side, the mistakes that are creeping into their game need to be cut out. The side needs to find calm again, and in that, build enjoyment.
There is too much overthinking in games, and the side has started playing with fear. There is an opportunity in midweek, against Kairat Almaty, to try some new things and give some other players a bit of a boost.
Get Merino in the team
Another Merino cameo, another goal. The Spaniard has become such an important player for Arsenal in the last 18 months, from breaking into the side as a centre-forward, scoring twice at Leicester and then against Real Madrid and Liverpool, to losing his spot this season but still finding the net six times. He has been critical.
His goals have been an equaliser at Newcastle, an equaliser at Chelsea, a winner and an assist against Brentford and most recently the goal on Sunday against Manchester United, with two in the Champions League at Slavia Prague when picked to start up top.
Others like Martin Odegaard and Viktor Gyokeres are simply failing to contribute enough to the performances. Merino can provide big moments and is useful playing in either Odegaard's midfield slot or Gyokeres' striker role. He needs to play.
Solve eight problems
The last three league games, the draws with Liverpool and Nottingham Forest and the defeat to Manchester United, has seen a major drop off when compared to the numbers seen over the first 20 matches - and eight statistics show where they have gone wrong in recent matches.
Shots per game is down (15.2 > 13), shots on target is down (5.1 > 3.7), shot conversion is down (13.2% > 5.1%), the number of shots faced has slightly increased (7.9 > 8), volume of passes per game is down (494 > 465), pass accuracy has dipped (85.2% > 84.7%), the number of touches in the opponents box is down (34.7 > 29.3) and the amount of times possession has been won in the final third is down (4.4 > 4).
This is the picture; the question is whether this has been coming or whether this is a slump. Arteta will certainly be hoping it is the latter, and the upcoming matches will give us that answer, which we can reconvene in the coming weeks.
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