Arsenal’s recent 2-1 defeat to West Ham has reignited concerns over the team’s tactical approach and defensive vulnerabilities.

Despite Jonas Eidevall’s efforts to rejuvenate the squad with Leah Williamson’s return and a dynamic front line, Arsenal struggled to maintain control.

The 2-1 West Ham defeat showed there is still a lot of work to be done for Arsenal and the League title is unfortunately probably out of reach.

Jonas Eidevall handed Leah Williamson her first start since her ACL injury last year. Katie McCabe was suspended for the game due to five bookings accumulated in the previous games, and therefore Steph Catley started at left-back.

In attack, the front two of Miedema and Russo was given another run, while Mead and Foord were the usual starters on the wings.

Arsenal took the lead and let it slip, ending up losing a game that they had under control, particularly in the first half.

I think frustration is the right word for the post-game feeling. There is a recurrent problem that is not being solved, and it is difficult to understand why. There are three ways to beat a defence: go through it, go around it, or go above it. And it is quite clear that the current team is struggling to find solutions and also conceding goals that could be avoided.

I mean, against Spurs, forwards pressing un-coordinated leaving holes in midfield and in the defence. Against West Ham, a penalty given away that shifted the momentum. I still don’t understand the need to foul Ueki. Then a second goal with a punched clearance straight to a Cissoko who lobbed Zinsberger.

I think we could end up in the same situation that happened with Joe Montemurro in his final year, where the team was stale. The attacking football based on build-up play was found out by other teams, so he was rightly replaced. If you stagnate, other teams will overtake you. You need constant improvement.

Then came Jonas Eidevall with a footballing style based on defensive pressing, with a high or medium positioning of the block. Very much a reactive way of playing football. It has brought good results and allowed us to win games that we were not winning any more against big teams and a Champions League run to the semi-finals. It is obvious that smaller sides have sussed us out. Bigger teams still want the ball, so it plays into our hands as they leave space behind them for us to run into.

But against deep defensive blocks, the creativity is not there. At least we bought a striker in Alessia Russo whose qualities are better suited against that style of football, but we don’t manage to use her well. And there lies the question, in theory, the team should have improved with Russo rather than Blackstenius at 9 against low blocks. But the struggle is real.

Of course, attacking a low block is one of the toughest jobs in football. There is no easy solution, but players need to perform better, and staff need to give them tools, too. You can see the attacking is very static at times; you can also see that players are trying to get out of their zone at times, but things are not well coordinated.

The off-the-ball movement and passing options to the player on the ball need to be better. Arsenal also lacked penetration via the central area as well as shooting from long range. Solutions have to be found as a team; it is not about individuals being scapegoated as being responsible for the defeats.

The League table makes for grim reading. Arsenal are still in third place but six points behind Chelsea with nine games to go. They are also 13 goals behind in terms of goal difference, so the title is not going to happen.

Runners-up is now the next target, as well as avoiding United coming back and nicking third place from us.