Arsenal’s Title Hopes Stumble in Frustrating Draw Against Everton
LONDON — It’s the kind of result that makes you wonder: are Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, and set-pieces enough to carry Arsenal to Premier League glory? Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Everton at the Emirates Stadium has left fans and pundits alike questioning whether the Gunners have the depth and firepower to truly challenge for the title this season.
Sure, Arsenal have shown plenty of promise, but this result has cast a shadow over their January transfer plans—or lack thereof. Despite the growing sense that Manchester City might be vulnerable this season, Arsenal’s current stance is to avoid splashing the cash in the upcoming transfer window unless injuries or an extraordinary opportunity arise. Meanwhile, City are reportedly ready to back Pep Guardiola in the market to address their recent struggles. The contrast in approaches couldn’t be starker.
Arteta’s Faith in Internal Growth
Manager Mikel Arteta has consistently emphasized the potential for internal improvement within his squad. And to be fair, there’s room for growth. Arsenal’s recent success has been built on the brilliance of Odegaard, Saka, and their set-piece wizardry, led by specialist coach Nicolas Jover. But as Saturday’s stalemate showed, relying on these elements alone might not be enough when faced with a well-organized, defensive opponent like Everton.
Everton, who had 10 days to prepare due to the postponement of the Merseyside derby, came into the match well-rested and tactically sharp. Arsenal, on the other hand, had played twice in that same period. While the Gunners dominated possession and created some late chaos, their usual rhythm and precision in the final third were noticeably absent. Misplaced passes and poor decision-making disrupted their momentum, leaving fans frustrated.
Substitutions Raise Eyebrows
Arteta’s substitutions on the day didn’t help matters. Odegaard and Declan Rice were both withdrawn after 62 minutes, breaking up the Odegaard-Saka-Jurriën Timber combination that has been Arsenal’s most reliable attacking outlet. While Arteta later revealed that Rice was dealing with a minor injury, Odegaard’s removal was purely tactical.
“With Martin, it was a tactical decision to try to change their rhythm on that side,” Arteta explained. “I understand. If Ethan comes in and he scores a goal, it’s a great goal. If he doesn’t, you have taken your captain out. That’s football.”
But asking a 17-year-old with just 11 Premier League appearances to replicate Odegaard’s creativity was a bold gamble—and one that didn’t pay off. Seven minutes later, Arteta shuffled his lineup again, moving Timber to left-back and introducing Gabriel Jesus and Thomas Partey. Leandro Trossard replaced Gabriel Martinelli in the final substitution, but the changes left Arsenal looking disjointed and ineffective.
Struggles in the Final Third
Several players had afternoons to forget. Kai Havertz was quiet, Jesus extended his goalless streak in the league to 23 matches, and Trossard failed to make an impact. Even Raheem Sterling, who didn’t feature despite the team’s struggles, has become a source of concern. Once seen as a potential game-changer after arriving on loan from Chelsea, Sterling is now looking more like a fringe player.
Arteta, however, remains optimistic. He pointed out that Arsenal scored 91 goals last season, the highest in their Premier League history. “At the end, you need a spark and you need to be precise,” he said. “We had the chances and this could have been 2-0 or 3-0, and [then] nobody is talking about it. The reality is 0-0 and they are not going to talk about all the incredible things the team did in the game.”
What’s Next for Arsenal?
While Arteta is right to highlight the positives, the reality is that Arsenal may need to dip into the transfer market if they want to avoid more frustrating afternoons like this. A physical, defensive team like Everton exposed the Gunners’ lack of game-changing options off the bench. If Arsenal are serious about challenging for the title, they might need to add some “stardust” to their squad in January.
For now, Arsenal fans will hope this was just a blip. But with Manchester City likely to strengthen in the coming weeks, the pressure is on the Gunners to show they have what it takes to go the distance.
Originally Written by: James Olley
