What's Going On With Arsenal in 2026?

The announcement of the contract extension for Arsenal star player Bukayo Saka was intentionally withheld by the club to boost the enthusiasm of supporters ahead of the North London derby this weekend. However, the euphoria surrounding this news has been overshadowed by the disappointment of the supporter group regarding the anticlimactic performances of Saka and his teammates in the Premier League.

Arsenal announced a new contract for Saka that will be valid until 2030 on Thursday (19/2/2026) WIB. The announcement came less than 24 hours after Arsenal drew 2-2 with Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux Stadium. They missed the opportunity to extend their lead to seven points over their closest competitor, Manchester City, who still have one game in hand.

The club has withheld good news as they are set to visit Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday night WIB. The hope is that a positive atmosphere envelops the team ahead of the derby match, especially if they win against Wolves. The situation has turned. The confidence of the supporters in the team managed by coach Mikel Arteta has reached a critical point due to the poor trend since the turn of the year.

The peak was at the Wolves' den. They failed to win after initially leading by two goals. "You are playing against the bottom-ranked team in the league; you should be able to win, but Arsenal let that slip from their grasp. The title race has become very open," said former Arsenal defender Martin Keown, who has won three English League trophies.

The narrative regarding the loser mentality within the Arsenal squad, which has haunted them for the past three seasons, has resurfaced. They have only won twice in seven league matches during 2026, as they approach the finish line in the title race. "The Gunners" even lost seven points from a leading position, performing only better than Crystal Palace (8 points).

Arteta has always been criticized for the goal crisis from open play. However, that was not the main issue last week. They led 2-0 against Wolves thanks to a pair of goals from open play, even taking the lead since the fifth minute. Game management over the 90 minutes became their biggest problem.

Arsenal often disrupts momentum by slowing down the pace of the game. They attempt to maintain their lead by playing more cautiously. Just look at the second half against Wolves, where they were dominated by the worst team in the league due to their reluctance to take risks during ball possession. The focus is on defense.

Arsenal dropped points in three of their last five league matches. In those three games, against Wolves, Brentford, and Manchester United, their problems were clearly visible. After scoring a goal and immediately adopting a passive approach, they consistently conceded within less than ten minutes. The passivity of "The Gunners" invited aggression from their opponents.

The team coached by Arteta took the lead first in the 29th minute against MU, which was equalized eight minutes later. Arsenal also took the lead at Brentford's home in the 61st minute, but it was equalized just ten minutes later. Finally, Wolves reduced the deficit to 1-2 only five minutes after Arsenal's second goal.

Interestingly, such caution has been practiced by Arsenal since the beginning of the season. They are no longer a team that attacks intensely throughout the match, as they were in the 2022-23 or 2023-24 seasons. Arteta has begun to prioritize results above all else, in pursuit of trophies. As a result, they have repeatedly won narrowly with a style of play that is less aesthetically pleasing, especially after taking the lead.

Thanks to this principle, Arsenal once recorded a 100 percent win rate after taking the lead first (13 times). They also hold the status of the team with the best defense. So, what has caused their results to suddenly decline recently? This similar yet different situation has become the biggest question mark.

The difference lies in the composure of the Arsenal players. Over the past month, they have appeared panicked during critical moments. They seem to be starting to feel the pressure of the championship competition. City, which has always been a nightmare in recent seasons, continues to trail closely behind. Arsenal is burdened with a sense of trauma on their shoulders.

The equalizing goal by Wolves, which resulted from an own goal by defender Riccardo Calafiori, is one piece of evidence. The goal showcased the panic in Arsenal's defense, particularly between goalkeeper David Raya and defender Gabriel Magalhaes. They were competing for the ball in a crossing situation, with no pressure from opposing players.

Arteta had instructed his team to remain calm in ball possession. However, it was all in vain as the momentum had shifted to the home side. Raya often rushed by sending long passes to the opponent's half of the field. In fact, only one out of ten long passes from the goalkeeper was accurate in the second half.

The panic within the Arsenal squad is palpable. "We have to blame ourselves. I feel that the performance in the second half did not reflect the standards required in this league to win, given the goal difference we should have had today, especially considering the way we played in the first half. This is a disappointing moment," said Arteta.

"Si Meriam" is not doing well. It is not only the players who are struggling to cope with the pressure, but the manager's approach is also exacerbating the situation. Arteta's game management often causes his team to lose momentum and find themselves in a pressured condition. They have repeatedly been forced to take a winding path when there was an easier route available.

Arteta seems to need to change his approach. The mentality of the Arsenal squad has proven to be insufficient to withstand that pressure. They need to leverage the quality and depth of the squad to dominate in every match. Moreover, the player material of "The Gunners" is among the best in the league.

Arsenal still has the opportunity to rectify their mistakes. The league is still long, with eleven matches remaining. They also maintain control over the title race. "We just need to refocus and address the current issues, then get back on the path to victory," Saka explained.

However, if they don't improve soon, "The Cannons" will have to endure another embarrassment at the end of the season. Instead of a quadruple of trophies this season, they are in danger of creating a historic quattrick as league runners-up. (AP/REUTERS)