It is time for Mikel Arteta to get busy in the transfer window as Arsenal will finally have a chance to play in the Uefa Champions League again after missing out this major tournament for such a long time. I think Mikel Arteta might need to get in better centre-back defenders as their defense does look kind of shaky whenever their opponent launch a fast counter attack resulting in Arsenal conceding goals.
I think Arsenal have more than just defensive problems... I can't explain why they so stupidly lost the lead at the end of the season... I thought they could take the top spot this season, but in the last matches against the outsiders they failed to score the very important points... With a game like that they can't do well in the Champions League...
It's no wonder that at the end of the season, Arsenal always make ridiculous silliness. How can you not lead the standings with confidence since the beginning of the season and even then the difference is quite far from Manchester City, but when they slip a little, then they have lost everything. There are several factors that need attention, not only in terms of their defense, but in terms of the strategy that Arteta has implemented has not changed much, as if he is already comfortable with one strategy and Arteta has forgotten that his opponent has learned. So it's no wonder they finally collapsed due to their own mistakes.
Especially against Manchester City, where Pep Guardiola knows the characteristics of Arteta game so that Pep can easily find gaps in Arsenal's open defense. Meanwhile, Arteta in the second half did not make any changes so that from the first half to the second half the distance was still the same.
Simple, the formation carried out by Arteta is the ancient formation, namely 4-3-3. but in fact, the strategy and system that Arteta implemented was quite complicated. at first glance, we only see it-that's all. when in fact, it is not so. the system that Arteta implements, often changes according to the rotation of the players.
IMO, there's a lot that we can criticize from Arteta and what he did wrong was, he misplaced several players. for example, Fabio Viera, this player is a complete mess. it seems, he doesn't know when to give long passes to the front lines and when to hold them. this player tends to make a lot of mistakes. another one, Rob Holding. he is a center back, or it could be a DC. but what he did, there were more blunders than good plays. when these two players were made the main starters, Arsenal always achieved minor results and even lost. the time has come, for Arteta to let go of both.
Well, apart from that, Pep Guardiola is Arteta's teacher. however, perhaps Arteta needs time to hone his skills. referring to what you said, the strategy implemented has not changed much. actually that's not entirely true, but more precisely. Arteta is reluctant to rotate his players, even though the player is underperforming.
and this, Pep did not do. Pep always combines other players, not always the core players will play. for example, Bernaldo Silva on the bench, Mahrez started. or vice versa with several other players. there is more, it looks like Arteta has no other plans besides his only original plan. well, the problem is when the team has an impasse, Arteta has no other options. I hope that in the next season, Arteta evaluates all of his shortcomings and continues to bring Arsenal even better.