Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he wants his team to 'attack the title' rather than defend it, but the Gunners have yet to show the dominant form needed. Despite a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest thanks to Noni Madueke's deflected 80th-minute goal, Arsenal managed just one shot on target and 75% possession in a tough, watchable match. The win marked their 10th victory in 11 matches across all competitions, with their only loss coming at Brighton before the international break.
Arteta questioned the idea of losing momentum after winning 10 of 11 games, calling it unrealistic to expect perfection. He acknowledged the difficulty of breaking down deep defenses, like Forest's 5-4-1 shape, and stressed the need for fresh legs and different attacking profiles. Arsenal's lack of a top-class forward signing this summer lingers, with Christos Tzolis injured and targets like Morgan Rogers, Vinícius Júnior, and Julián Álvarez not secured.
Arteta admitted the squad feels incomplete, especially on the left wing, where Eberechi Eze struggled with just 21 touches before being halved for Madueke. Bruno Guimarães controlled midfield but failed to unlock the defense. Arteta referenced a recent Lille match where a player should have scored more, noting that against deep blocks, creativity and variation are essential.
The Gunners remain favorites to retain the title, especially if Manchester City face penalties for alleged financial rule breaches.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing