From topping the Premier League table on Christmas Day to finding themselves at risk of dropping out of the top four entirely, Arsenal’s winter attacking woes have come to the fore throughout the festive period, and Mikel Arteta’s troops have now been punished for such alarming profligacy on more than one occasion.
After producing toothless attacking performances in successive top-flight defeats to West Ham United and Fulham, Arsenal passed up a surfeit of opportunities to draw first blood against Liverpool in the FA Cup, until Jakub Kiwior managed to make the net ripple in front of the Reds fans.
Unfortunately for the Pole, he sent the away end into elation as he inadvertently headed Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free kick into the net before Luis Diaz offered Arsenal a
lesson in ruthlessness with a thunderous finish into the roof of the goal, leading Arteta to admit that his side may have developed a mental block when it comes to finishing chances.
Pleas from Gooners to splash the cash on a new number nine in January are likely to fall on deaf ears – unless an audacious loan move for Karim Benzema comes to fruition
– leaving the onus on Arteta and co to pull fourth-placed Arsenal, who are only above Tottenham Hotspur on goal difference with a game in hand, out of their offensive rut.
With just one win to show from seven matches in all tournaments – and even then wasted chances nearly proved costly in a 2-0 beating of Brighton & Hove Albion – Arsenal have never
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endured a worse seven-game run under Arteta, and they have now lost their last two Premier League London derbies after going unbeaten in 17 capital clashes before that.
lack of killer instinct was also the root of Crystal Palace’s problems in their FA Cup opener with Everton, who dug in for a goalless draw with 10 men at Selhurst Park to add another fixture into the calendar for both sides, which was played out on Wednesday evening at the Toffees’ Goodison base.
Another drab draw was not beyond the realm of possibility between two sides devoid of confidence and conviction – especially in the final third – but Andre Gomes’s 42nd-minute effort was all that Sean Dyche’s men required to prolong their cup journey, and the disgruntled Palace fans made their feelings known in the second period.
