Mikel Arteta must exploit biggest Arsenal strength to keep season alive

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Evening Standard

·4 March 2025

Mikel Arteta must exploit biggest Arsenal strength to keep season alive

As the attack struggles with absentees, the Gunners’ other strengths must take up the slack

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A different competition, but Mikel Arteta is faced with the same old questions ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League showdown against PSV Eindhoven.

Arteta is desperately trying to work out how to get a tune out of Arsenal’s depleted attack, which is without four forwards due to injury.

The Gunners have drawn a blank in their last two Premier League games - doing so for the first time since May 2023 - but Arteta is adamant the players he has at his disposal can turn things around.

“The moment that you have a result, it’s hurting but it has to last 24 hours because then you have to move on and you have to face the next game and the preparation,” he said.

“We have still gears, even with the players that we have, some other gears to take the game to a different level.”

Jurrien Timber speaking to the media on Monday

ANP/AFP via Getty Images

Mikel Merino is expected to lead the line again for Arsenal against PSV, starting as an emergency striker for the third game in a row.

It is far from ideal, but given the Gunners are without Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz, it is understandable.

Merino, like the rest of Arsenal’s attack, has struggled, but PSV could be the opponent that sparks them into life.

Arteta spent his press conference ahead of the first leg of this last-16 tie being quizzed about his attack, while his opposite number, PSV boss Peter Bosz, had to endure questions about his side’s defence.

Since the turn of the year, PSV have kept just one clean sheet in 14 games and in that time they have conceded 29 goals.

In that time, Bosz’s side have won just six games in all competitions, leading to them falling eight points behind leaders Ajax in the Dutch title race, and the growing argument is that PSV are too attacking in their approach.

“We have achieved success with this style of play and the same players,” Bosz said on Monday, defending his style of play.

“I know my team well and it’s not a guarantee that with a low block you won’t get any goals against us.”

PSV’s attacking approach should offer Arsenal opportunities

Bosz has received backing from his players, with winger Ivan Perisic one of those to come out and support his tactics.

“I have always liked attacking football, I played that especially during my time in Germany,” he said. “Now we have to play even more compactly. In difficult times, real men have to stand up.”

All of it should be music to Arteta’s ears. Arsenal’s struggles in attack have not been helped by the fact that in their last two games they have faced teams that have sat deep.

PSV, under Bosz, are not inclined to set up like that and it could present Arsenal’s forward line with the space they crave.

“I think tomorrow is a beautiful game to change the narrative and to win,” said defender Jurrien Timber. “Of course, we have a lot of injuries, especially up front. We know that.

“But I think it is a beautiful challenge for us as a team to put our forward players, or anyone, in the best position to score goals.”

Arteta, at least, has no worries about his defence and, as he pointed out on Monday night, those with the best backline often enjoy success when it comes to the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Arsenal must find solutions in attack

Getty Images

The Premier League’s last two winners of the competition - Chelsea in 2021 and Manchester City in 2023 - both conceded just three goals in seven knockout matches.

Arsenal impressed defensively in the league phase of this season’s competition. They conceded just three goals in eight games and only Inter Milan boasted a better record than that.

“If you look at the history of the teams who have been very successful, the defensive record is critical,” said Arteta.

“I think we have conceded three goals and the lowest expected goals (against) in the group stage which is great. That’s a big platform.”

The challenge for Arsenal is to build off that platform, but they are running out of time to do so.

Given they are 13 points off Liverpool in the Premier League, albeit with a game in hand, the Champions League looks like their most realistic chance at a trophy this season.

But the ruthless nature of knockout football means two poor performances by Arsenal over the space of the next week and their season could be over by the middle of March.

“It’s tunnel vision, it’s just PSV, being better than them to earn the right to win the game,” said Arteta. “That’s what we have to do.”