For Arsenal fans, January has once again become the month of worry.
A 3-2 loss to Manchester United on Sunday stretched their Premier League winless streak to three games, following dull draws against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
The Gunners, perched atop the table just weeks ago, now find themselves teetering on a familiar edge.
It’s a trend fans have painfully watched repeat over the last five seasons.
In 2021-22, Arsenal went five games without a win in January.
The following year, four matches passed in January and February before a victory arrived.
In 2023-24, just one win came from seven matches spanning December to January.
Even with Manchester City momentarily out of the spotlight, a cloud of dread hangs over the Emirates.
The question remains: why do Arsenal stumble in January, and can they break the cycle this year?
Over-Reliance on Set-Pieces
“Set-piece FC” is a nickname rival fans throw around, but it isn’t entirely unfair.
Arsenal’s dependence on corners and free-kicks has become painfully obvious.
From the start of the season to December, 31% of their goals came from set-pieces.
In January alone, that number has jumped to 53%.
Against Manchester United, Mikel Merino’s goal came from a corner, highlighting how much Arsenal lean on dead-ball situations when regular play isn’t producing results.
Teams have caught on. Liverpool limited Arsenal to just three corners, while Nottingham Forest dealt with nine but countered Arsenal’s threat effectively with powerful defenders.
Across Europe’s top five leagues, Arsenal lead with 26 set-piece goals—but that advantage becomes a crutch when open-play creativity dries up.
Pressure and the Weight of Expectations
Pressure is real at Arsenal, even if Chloe Kelly’s mantra of “Pressure? What pressure?” would make it sound trivial.
Fans’ expectations and the ghosts of past seasons weigh heavily on the squad.
The memory of 2022-23 lingers. Arsenal led the Premier League for 248 days before Manchester City overtook them with six games left.
Last season, City’s 23-match unbeaten streak again denied Arsenal the title by two points.
Those scars don’t fade overnight, and each high-stakes match reinforces the anxiety.
Even in games against lower-profile opponents, the tension is visible.
Against Wolves in December, the Emirates seemed to radiate nervous energy, nearly costing Arsenal points despite a last-minute reprieve from an own goal.
The team’s stellar record—top of the league, Champions League progress, 16 games unbeaten at home before United—hasn’t alleviated the pressure; it may even amplify it.
Problems in Attack
Striking remains Arsenal’s Achilles’ heel.
Viktor Gyokeres, the £64 million summer signing, has yet to consistently deliver the magic required to lead the front line.
Gabriel Jesus’ return hasn’t solved the issue, and Kai Havertz is still regaining fitness.
Arsenal’s expected goals from open play (xG) are lower than City, Liverpool, Chelsea, and even Manchester United.
Their attacking midfielders haven’t fully picked up the creative slack either.
Martin Odegaard’s form fluctuates, Eberechi Eze is struggling with confidence, and Ethan Nwaneri is out on loan.
Even “own goals” have outscored regular forwards in the league this season—a telling sign of inefficiency in front of goal.
Until these attacking channels improve, Arsenal will continue leaning heavily on set-pieces.
Bukayo Saka’s Burden
Bukayo Saka remains the focal point in attack, but even the star has struggled to replicate past output.
After 25 goal contributions in 2023-24 and 16 last season, he has managed only seven so far this year.
Opponents recognize this and often deploy multiple players to shadow him, limiting his influence.
While Saka remains crucial, Arsenal need alternative creative routes to relieve the pressure on him and keep defenses guessing.
Can Arsenal Break the Cycle?
Arsenal’s January slump isn’t a mystery—it’s a combination of predictable attack patterns, psychological pressure, and the lack of clinical finishing.
The blueprint for success is clear: diversify scoring avenues, ease the mental burden, and improve attacking cohesion.
With the title race entering its crucial stages, how Arteta manages the squad through this familiar slump could define the season.
Fans will be watching closely, hoping this year’s “Dry January” doesn’t spiral into a lost February.
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