What is Happening to EPL Favourites Man City & Arsenal?

The Premier League season has seen a shift in dynamics that nobody could have predicted. Just two seasons ago, Arsenal and Manchester City were locked in an intense battle for the title, with City edging Arsenal in the final stretches.

Now, both teams find themselves in unfamiliar territory, with injuries, squad depth issues, and tactical flaws threatening their title aspirations.

🔵Manchester City’s Crisis: A Decline in Form and Depth😩:

On the other side of North London, Manchester City are going through an even more profound crisis. The reigning Premier League champions have fallen from their usual lofty heights, sitting fifth in the table, 12 points behind leaders Liverpool.

A four-game losing streak in October — their worst since 2006 — highlighted the issues plaguing Pep Guardiola’s side. But it's not just about a poor run of results. The underlying causes are deeper and more concerning.

Injuries have decimated Guardiola's squad. Key figures like Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, John Stones, and Ruben Dias have been side-lined, exposing City’s lack of depth.

The loss of Rodri, who was integral to City’s midfield, has been especially significant. Without him, City’s win percentage dropped dramatically from 73.6% to 58.3%.

Though they initially managed to cope without their star midfielder, subsequent injuries and a lack of squad depth have made their challenges more pronounced.

Furthermore, Guardiola’s tactical setup, which once seemed invincible, is showing cracks. Defensively, City have been vulnerable, particularly to aerial duels and crosses, conceding the joint-most goals from back-post crosses in the league.

This defensive frailty is further evidenced by City having the lowest success rate for aerial duels in the defensive third since the start of the 2018-19 season. Their high press, which was a hallmark of their success, has faltered, and the team has conceded more goals than expected based on their usual standards.

In addition, for the first time under Guardiola, City are experiencing an xG deficit, meaning they are conceding more high-quality chances than they are creating. This marks a sharp contrast to the team that dominated the Premier League for several seasons.

City’s ageing squad, with an average age of 27.0 years and nine 30+ players in their first team, means several key players are nearing the end of their careers, something that has left Guardiola with difficult decisions regarding the future of the team.

🔴Arsenal’s Attack- Imbalance and Injury Woes😩:

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have spent two seasons chasing Manchester City’s shadow, but this year, where all expected them to finally beat the Manchester club to the title, they seem to not be up to the task, with Liverpool, looking to run away with the title.

The Gunners’ attacking issues have been glaring, despite their efforts to reinforce other areas of the squad. Arteta himself admitted that Arsenal are in need of more "explosiveness" in attack, a problem that was highlighted in their recent Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle.

Despite controlling possession and creating opportunities, Arsenal have struggled with finishing, which has become a recurring issue. Although injuries have certainly played their part.

Martin Ødegaard, Arsenal's attacking linchpin, has been hampered by ankle problems, reducing his effectiveness. The absence of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli at times has left Arsenal with a lack of depth in attack, further exposing the imbalance in their squad.

While Arteta has invested heavily in defensive reinforcements like Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino, offensive reinforcements have been sparser, with £243.8m spent on more defensive outfield positions and just £86m on attack by the summer of 2022 from when Arteta took over.

Of Arsenal’s few attacking options like Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, and Kai Havertz, who have joined in recent seasons, only 13 goals have been contributed in the Premier League this season, compared to Mohamed Salah’s 18, underscoring the issue.

🆕Shifting Power in the Premier League🆕:

Meanwhile, Liverpool have emerged as the dominant force in the Premier League this season, sitting 6 points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand. Arne Slot’s side, though not without their issues, have benefited from consistency and a balanced squad.

With Arsenal and City faltering, Liverpool have seized the opportunity to put themselves in a strong position for the title, leaving the other two giants to play catch-up.

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