Arsenal aren’t doing it the easy way, are they? After watching a quadruple fantasy fade before it could even creep towards reality, the Gunners saw their treble dream suffer the same fate courtesy of Southampton, and then faced a nervous wait against Sporting Club.
Eventually, Kai Havertz found himself in the right place at the perfect time to seal a late Arsenal winner, but Mikel Arteta certainly has plenty of problems to solve before his side’s next outing.
The Spaniard will also be the first to remind everyone that the injuries that Arsenal suffered over the international break weren’t all simply convenient. Some of them have unearthed their new Rob Holding at the worst-possible time.
Arsenal facing a Rob Holding repeat
Whilst April is all about resurrection for some, it seems to be where Arsenal’s season often goes to die. And in the 2022/23 campaign, it was Holding who inadvertently twisted the knife to end his side’s Premier League title hopes.
Similar to what Arteta is dealing with right now, it was William Saliba who suffered an ill-timed injury at the back end of the 2022/23 campaign, coincidentally against Sporting in the Europa League. With a trip to the Etihad awaiting with five games left to play, the Frenchman was forced to watch on courtesy of a back problem.
|
Arsenal 22/23 (PL) |
With Saliba |
Without Saliba |
|---|---|---|
|
Games |
27 |
11 |
|
Wins |
21 |
5 |
|
Draws |
3 |
3 |
|
Defeats |
3 |
3 |
In 2023, there was no Piero Hincapie or Christhian Mosquera to turn to, either. Instead, it was Holding who stepped up and it was Man City who struck four past their title rivals before taking top spot against Fulham in their next game.
At the time, Arsenal were on a run of four games without a league win without Saliba at the most important stage of the season. Had their centre-back been available, another story could have unfolded entirely. A Premier League title may have been forthcoming.
Now, throw things forward three years, and it’s Arsenal’s title to lose again with an April trip to the Etihad awaiting and their new Holding waiting to play a concerningly crucial part.
Arsenal’s new Rob Holding
In 2023, it was Holding for Saliba. In 2026, it is Ben White for Jurrien Timber which could result in another Arsenal downfall.
The former, like Holding, has simply not been at the level of Arteta’s first choice – making an error in defeat against Southampton and failing to impress against Sporting, notably caught ball watching when full-back Maximiliano Araujo got in behind.
The big concern is that Arsenal may have to rely on White for an all-important title decider against Man City. By the time that game comes around, Pep Guardiola’s side could have the chance to close the gap to six points with one game in hand to turn the pressure up on Arsenal that much more.
History suggests that the Gunners cannot afford to lose and that could force Arteta to turn towards an alternative replacement for Timber rather than the out-of-form White.
|
Arsenal 25/26 (PL) |
When Ben White has started |
|---|---|
|
Games |
5 |
|
Wins |
3 |
|
Draws |
1 |
|
Defeats |
1 |
With seven games left to play in the Premier League, the last thing that Arsenal need is for a bit-part star to be playing a crucial role and that’s exactly what White is these days.
The £50m-man, thanks to a mix of injuries and form, has started just five Premier League games this season. Timber, meanwhile, has started 27 of 31.
It mirrors the 22/23 campaign, when Holding went from a squad player into the starting lineup against Man City before Arsenal’s title hopes crumbled. Worryingly, the defender also started just eight games in that campaign.
There’s still time for White to earn redemption this season, but it’s time for Berta to be ruthless in the summer and axe what is quickly becoming Arsenal’s biggest weakness. Before then, however, Arteta must drop him.
Arteta must drop 3/10 Arsenal star who was even worse than Ben White v Sporting
Arsenal left it late to beat Sporting CP 1-0 in the Champions League.