Arsenal’s year concluded with a disheartening 2-1 defeat against Fulham, casting a shadow over Mikel Arteta’s squad.
The match at Craven Cottage, which saw Arsenal squander an early lead, reflected deep-rooted issues in the team’s squad, strategy and application.
Entering the match at Craven Cottage, Arsenal expected to capitalise on their early lead provided by Bukayo Saka.
However, the team’s performance progressively worsened, overshadowing even the debatable refereeing that saw two different standards of officiating.
Despite dominating possession, Arsenal’s tactics were ineffective, with their movements on the pitch slow and their strategies rigid.
This lack of dynamism led to a mere three shots on target, two of which posed no challenge to Fulham’s goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
The match highlighted a significant regression in Arsenal’s playing style, reminiscent of their overly cautious approach from a few years ago.
The loss was a missed opportunity to lead the Premier League table at the end of the calendar year and ended a remarkable 48-game run without defeat after scoring first.
After the game, Declan Rice expressed his disappointment on Sky Sports. “Very disappointing. Very tough to take,” he said.
“Not good enough from us again today. Obviously, the last two results have not been what we have been setting over the course of the season. On the back of the draw at Liverpool, we felt we could kick on but two defeats is a tough one to swallow,” he added.
Rice continued, highlighting Arsenal’s recent struggles. “The game against West Ham we had 30 shots, so many touches in the box but couldn’t put it away. Today when go one up we have to have more control. We need to demand more from each other. We had to push on again and go for more.
“In this league, there is no room to mess up. It is a tough one to take.”
Despite dominating the ball and playing well, Arsenal couldn’t capitalise on their chances, missing out on reclaiming the top spot in the league. “We knew three points would put us back on top. It is two defeats in a row. It is time to reset and we go again,” Rice said.
Regarding the title race, Rice said, “I don’t really look at the table. There is a lot of media who talk and say Arsenal will win the league this year. We don’t get involved in that. It is a blip in a road but it is no time to panic. We need to stay positive.”
The outcome leaves Arsenal with much to reflect upon, especially as they prepare for a challenging FA Cup match against Liverpool.