Arsenal sits atop the Premier League table, holding a nine-point lead over Manchester City, though the reigning champions have matches in hand. This advantage comes after a 1-0 away victory against Brighton on Wednesday evening, but it follows a 2-1 loss to Bournemouth in the league and a defeat in the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City. The team's commanding position is thus tempered by recent setbacks that have injected uncertainty into their title pursuit.
A key factor in Arsenal's success this season has been their dominance from set-pieces, with the team scoring 21 goals from such situations, more than any other Premier League side. However, this effectiveness has drawn criticism, with accusations that Arsenal employs illegal physical tactics like holding, impeding, and bear-hugging opponents during set-pieces. Referees are under pressure to keep the game flowing and rarely penalize physical offenses in set-pieces, leading to a decline in the game. Arsenal's creativity and potential from players like Saka, Martinelli, Eze, and Odegaard are being stifled due to over-reliance on set-pieces.
The Brighton match highlighted concerns over time-wasting, with Fabian Hurzeler, Brighton's coach, expressing dismay at Arsenal's approach before the game. Hurzeler highlighted how Arsenal sometimes take more than a minute to execute a corner when leading, claiming that all the delays around set pieces disturb the rhythm of the game for the other team. Opta revealed that Arsenal took a combined 30 minutes and 51 seconds to restart play across that match, with Brighton supporters expressing frustration early on. An Arsenal throw-in deep inside the Brighton half saw Piero Hincapie hold the ball for 14 seconds before releasing it, with a total of 26 seconds passing from the moment the ball first went out of play. Twelve of Arsenal's restarts against Brighton were goal kicks, their highest total this season, occurring because Brighton players put the ball off the pitch; in one example, there were 24 seconds between the ball going out of play and a goal kick being taken. An Arsenal throw-in in the 14th minute prompted chants of 'Same old Arsenal, always cheating', with 19 seconds between the ball going out of play and Jurrien Timber taking that throw-in.
I think it's not entertaining to watch matches.
This incident is part of a broader trend, as 13 Premier League clubs have spent longer restarting matches this season, some on multiple occasions. Liverpool's Arne Slot has entered the discussion about time-wasting, admitting that his team has difficulty creating chances from open play.
Internally, the Arsenal squad is experiencing a nervous energy following the defeat to Bournemouth. Manager Mikel Arteta has pressured players to withdraw from international duty to prioritize the Premier League title race, a tactic similar to those used by Sir Alex Ferguson. This pressure reflects the high stakes as Arsenal aims to shed its 'nearly men' tag under Arteta, having recorded three successive second-place finishes in the Premier League.
Recent cup disappointments have compounded this pressure, with Arsenal losing back-to-back matches against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final and Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-final. These losses reinforce the perception of Arsenal as perennial contenders who fall short in crucial moments, despite their strong league form.
The Premier League needs to find a rule because that's not football what Arsenal did there.
Arsenal's playing style has been a topic of conversation in England this week, with debates over whether their approach is sustainable for title success. Critics argue that the over-reliance on set-pieces hampers their creative potential.
Fan and expert opinions on players like Martin Zubimendi add another layer to the discussion, with some Arsenal fans criticizing him as a bad No.6, while others, including Nigel Reo Coker, praise him as one of the best players in Europe.
Elsewhere, Danny Welbeck's form for Brighton has drawn attention, with Alan Shearer noting that he bullied Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate in Brighton's 2-1 win over Liverpool. Shearer also stated that Welbeck is unlucky not to be in the England squad, given his goal-scoring form.
Despite the controversies, Arsenal are challenging for all four trophies this season.
Uncertainties persist regarding whether Arsenal's set-piece tactics involve illegal physical offenses as alleged by critics, and if the Premier League will review rules regarding time-wasting and set-piece delays. The exact impact of Arsenal's time-wasting on match outcomes and opponent performance remains unclear, as does how referees will respond to increased scrutiny over physical play and delays in set-pieces. Additionally, it is unknown whether Arsenal's playing style will affect their chances of winning the Premier League title, with debates ongoing about its effectiveness in high-pressure situations.