**Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira says the Gunners “have to go back” to what was working at the start of the season if they are to win the title.**
The perception has been that Mikel Arteta’s side are struggling in the final third, and Vieira says a more attack-minded approach is key for the Gunners to get over the line:
“I think they have to go back to what they were doing at the beginning of the season. I think they were quite clinical, playing forward, scoring goals and creating chances.”
“It’s true that at the moment they are a little bit too much on having the possession, but there’s not the end product. I believe that there is enough in that team to go to the final of the Champions League and even win the Premier League.”
Vieira’s explanation doesn’t hold up in the numbers
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By Christmas, Arsenal had scored 31 goals in their first 17 games, which gave them an average of 1.82 goals per match.
Since December 25th, Arteta’s men have also scored 31 times but in two fewer fixtures (15), which is an average of 2.06 goals per game.
The problem has been at the other end of the pitch – they are conceding more goals – 10 in their first 17, and 14 in their last 15.
Arsenal need to be braver
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While it seems the team’s philosophy hasn’t really changed, there has clearly been a mentality shift. Some of the performances in recent matches have been pretty dire – especially the defeat to Bournemouth last weekend.
If the players go to the Etihad with the same mindset, they will be in all kinds of trouble. As some pundits, including Gary Neville, have said. They need to head into the [**Manchester City fixture**](https://goonernews.com/blog/arsenal-predicted-lineup-vs-man-city/) this weekend with the belief that they can WIN the title, rather than fearing that they will lose it.
[**Read more about the Arsenal First Team Squad for 2025/26 here**](https://goonernews.com/blog/arsenal-first-team-squad/)