Arsenal Struggling Against Themselves

NOTTINGHAM, SATURDAY - Many believe that Arsenal's toughest opponent in the pursuit of the English Premier League title this season is themselves. This may sound somewhat clichéd, but it is beginning to prove true. Arsenal has repeatedly failed to capitalize on the downfall of rival teams due to a greater fear of losing than the desire to win.

Arsenal squandered the opportunity to extend their lead to nine points at the top of the standings over Manchester City. A few hours after City lost in the Manchester derby, they too failed to secure a victory. Arsenal was held to a 0-0 draw by Nottingham Forest at the City Ground Stadium, Nottingham, on Sunday (18/1/2025) early morning WIB.

Once might be a coincidence, but if it happens twice in a row, it warrants questioning. Ten days ago, the team managed by Mikel Arteta also played to a goalless draw with Liverpool after City had lost points first. This less than optimal result has become a trend. Arsenal has failed to win and has been unable to score.

Certainly disappointed because we wanted to win. We did not concede a single shot (on target) and on the contrary, we were able to create four great opportunities.

The problem is that Arsenal's performance is far from the standard. The intensity and aggressiveness of Martin Odegaard and his teammates were not evident, as seen during their 3-2 victory at Chelsea's home in the first leg of the League Cup semifinal last week. At Forest's home, they played very cautiously with a slow tempo from the start of the match until the final whistle.

Arteta stated that Arsenal was simply unlucky when reflecting on the chances they had. "Of course, we are disappointed because we wanted to win. We did not concede a single shot on target, and on the contrary, we were able to create four great opportunities. However, we were unable to win the match," he said.

"Si Meriam," the nickname for Arsenal, indeed created four significant opportunities. Three times, they were saved by Forest's goalkeeper Matz Sels. Nevertheless, these opportunities arose from monotonous attacks, ranging from set pieces to crosses. The visiting team did not find any other way to test Forest's defense.

Arsenal's chances of stealing the away match are very high. Forest, ranked 17th, is not a strong team at home, unlike last season. Before hosting Arsenal, they suffered two consecutive defeats. Furthermore, Forest lost 0-2 to Everton in their last match at the City Ground.

This means that the visiting team actually had a greater chance of winning if they had been bolder. However, Arteta chose to play it safe. Arsenal seemed unwilling to take risks. This was evident from the very organized structure of their defensive players when attacking and the lack of increased tempo in the second half.

Forest coach, Sean Dyche, briefly explained the opponent's highly disciplined gameplay. "It is difficult to face them; their commitment is different. They are indeed committed to scoring goals, but they are also very committed to maintaining their formation and shape (in the defensive area)," he said.

Arsenal is highly anticipating the threat of counterattacks from Forest. The home team has attackers with high speed, such as Callum Hudson-Odoi. This is what makes Arsenal hesitant to press with an extra high defensive block, unlike when facing Chelsea.

With limited creativity and below-standard intensity, it is understandable that "Si Meriam" could only produce a precise shot on target in the 59th minute. On the other hand, Arsenal's caution prevented Dyche's team from creating any shots on target. The situation for Forest, which failed to test goalkeeper David Raya, was also experienced by Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal made some rotations in the match earlier. Two key wingers, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard, were placed on the bench. Arteta made several changes to alter the situation of the match. Four substitute players had already entered, including Saka and Trossard, in the 57th minute. However, nothing changed as the playing approach remained the same.

Although failing to win, Arteta still sees positive aspects from the result. Arsenal managed to maintain a seven-point lead over City, an increase of one point from the previous week. "We must learn and grow. This league is very difficult. No team can win, win, and keep winning. You also have to give credit to the opposing team," he said.

After the Manchester derby, Arsenal appears to be the biggest winner from the match. They were able to extend their lead over City, although ultimately by just one point. Interestingly, the team that stands to benefit the most is Aston Villa. If Villa wins against Everton on Sunday night, they could narrow the gap to four points from Arsenal. (AP/REUTERS)