Question Marks Suffering from Arsenal's Dressing Room

The Arsenal squad's response is a question mark after the fallout in the last week. Issues of fatigue and mentality haunt again.

AFP/ADRIAN DENNIS

The disappointment reaction of Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice after his team conceded two goals in the English Premier League match against Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium on April 14th, 2024. Arsenal will return to play in the English Premier League against Wolves on Sunday (20/4/2024) early in the morning WIB.

WOLVERHAMPTON, FRIDAY — The world of Arsenal collapsed in just a week, like falling from the top of the tower to the bottom of the Burj Khalifa building. The Champions League title has disappeared, while the hopes of winning the Premier League are on the brink. They can save the season with the remaining six games, but are overshadowed by a long-standing "illness".

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta witnessed how much the players suffered after being defeated by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League in the middle of last week. They are drowning in regret because they failed to take advantage of the rare opportunity to appear in the quarter-finals, which was last achieved 14 years ago.

Arteta is known for being creative in motivating his team whether they win or lose. However, he ran out of ideas that night. There was nothing that could heal the players' wounds. "Full of disappointment and heartbreak in the locker room. I hope to find the right words to lift them up, but I am unable to," he said.

Also read: Arsenal Collapses with the Failure of Arteta's Experiment

Last week, Arsenal were still favorites to win the Premier League and Champions League. However, they lost their top position in the standings due to losing to Aston Villa at the weekend and continued their poor result versus Bayern. It's natural that Martin Odegaard and his colleagues are so down right now.

Wolverhampton Wanderers could end Arsenal's season early. They will host "The Cannon" at the Mollineux Stadium, Sunday (20/4/2024) early morning WIB. If the visiting team loses more points, their chances of winning the league will be increasingly closed. Arsenal is currently two points behind leaders Manchester City.

AP PHOTO/CHRISTIAN BRUNA

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard was only able to bow his head in despair after losing to Bayern Munich, 0-1, in the quarterfinals of the Champions League in Munich, on April 17, 2024. Arsenal was knocked out as a result of the defeat.

According to Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice, their character will be tested in the remaining six matches, starting with the match against Wolves. "Six finals left. We will win those six matches. It's certainly difficult, but we have to bring what we have done throughout the season. Don't let the results of the last two matches bring us down," he said.

The problem is that Arsenal always struggles to bounce back after poor results, especially towards the end of the season. In the last three seasons in April, they have experienced at least three matches without a victory. They also lost the league championship title last season after a series of three draws and one defeat during April.

(The past week) wasn't the best experience for us. Now we just need to focus on the nearest match.

Currently, Arsenal has failed to win three times in all competitions (2 losses, 1 draw). Two of them were against Bayern. They are already facing a tough schedule at the end of April. After visiting Wolves' headquarters, they will face two consecutive London derbies against Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.

Also read: When Bayern Munich's Experience Silenced Arsenal's Ability

Another issue is the players' fatigue. Judging from the last two defeats, they always conceded goals after halftime. However, the team managed by Arteta could dominate the first half, both in the game against Bayern and Villa. Arsenal has been playing every three days since the end of March.

According to Thierry Henry, former Arsenal striker, being eliminated in the Champions League could be a blessing in disguise for "The Cannon". They have struggled recently because the squad lacks depth. They have relied on the same players throughout the season, such as Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard. The back-up players don't contribute enough.

AP PHOTO/KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH

Arsenal's attacker Bukayo Saka (sitting) during a Premier League match against Aston Villa in London on April 14, 2024. The 0-2 defeat to Villa has nearly extinguished Arsenal's championship chances.

The burden on Arsenal's core team is too heavy compared to other championship competitors. Five Arsenal players have started at least 40 times in all competitions, in stark contrast to City (1) and Liverpool (0). Additionally, there are five Arsenal players who have played for more than 3,500 minutes, while there is only one player from the combination of City and Liverpool.

Reserve players such as Reiss Nelson, Emile Smith Rowe, and Fabio Vieira have only played for less than 700 minutes in all competitions throughout this season. However, they are considered as the main backups for the core players. For instance, Nelson, who is a backup for Saka, has only started five times.

Arteta is not worried about both of those issues. It will disappear on its own if they can bounce back at Molineux Stadium. Arsenal could take the top spot in the standings if they return with three points. City will not play their 33rd match yet because they have to undergo FA Cup semifinals against Chelsea on Saturday night.

"The past week has not been our best experience. Now we just need to focus on the upcoming match. The context is clear. If we win against Wolves, we will be at the top of the standings. If you need something else to motivate you, then you obviously have a problem," said Arteta.

Fortunately, Wolves are not in their best form. They have not won in their last five matches in all competitions. Meanwhile, Arsenal have remained unbeaten in their last six away matches in the league (5 wins, 1 draw). Arsenal have also only conceded one goal in all of those matches. (AP/REUTERS)