Ahead of the key match in Premier League round 23, Arsenal were clear favorites over Manchester United. Besides their home advantage, they led both the Premier League and Champions League tables, while their opponents had recently changed managers, dismissing Ruben Amorim and appointing Michael Carrick to lead the team until the end of the season.

However, the Gunners ultimately lost 2-3, suffering their first home defeat across all competitions this season at the Emirates Stadium. This was also the first time the Gunners conceded three goals in a Premier League match since their 4-3 victory over Luton Town in December 2023, ending an 83-game streak of not conceding more than two goals.

Gabriel Jesus (red shirt) challenges Lisandro Martinez during the Arsenal vs Manchester United match, which Arsenal lost 2-3 in Premier League round 23 at Emirates Stadium, London, England on 25/1. Photo: Arsenal FC

Speaking on "The Good, The Bad and The Football" podcast, Paul Scholes identified Arsenal's biggest issue as their attack. The former England midfielder stated that Arsenal "would be the worst champions" if they claimed the Premier League title this season.

"If you pick the best team of the season, no Arsenal attacking player deserves a spot", he commented. "Look at previous champions, like Liverpool; they all had exceptional attacks. Perhaps only Bukayo Saka comes close, but he hasn't been outstanding this season either."

Scholes' view was echoed by Jamie Carragher. Commenting on Sky Sports, the former Liverpool defender suggested that Arsenal is an unusual league leader.

"When do you see a team leading by 6 or 7 points without a single attacking player in the league's best XI?", Carragher questioned. According to him, Premier League champions always possess at least one, or even two, attacking stars – something Arsenal currently lacks.

Similarly, Micah Richards expressed concern, stating that Arsenal plays too defensively. The former England defender noted that most of the Gunners' goals come from set pieces, while their forwards struggle to maintain consistent scoring efficiency.

Mikel Merino scores the equalizer at 2-2 from a corner kick. Photo: Arsenal FC

This season, Arsenal has excelled at scoring from set pieces. Mikel Arteta's squad has netted 26 goals from dead-ball situations, the highest among the five top European leagues. However, the goal-scoring form of Arsenal's key attacking players from open play is a cause for concern.

Bukayo Saka has not scored in his last 13 matches across all competitions. Viktor Gyokeres has gone 11 consecutive Premier League matches without scoring any non-penalty goals. Gabriel Martinelli has also failed to score in 13 consecutive domestic league matches. Leandro Trossard has only one goal in his last 11 appearances, while Noni Madueke has not scored in 25 Premier League games.

Gary Lineker highlighted Arsenal's lack of a stable goal source, despite goals being distributed across many positions. Gyokeres and Trossard are Arsenal's two highest scorers in the Premier League this season, each with 5 goals. They are followed by Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, and Mikel Merino, who each have 4 goals. "They don't have anyone scoring regularly", he said, although he acknowledged that other positions, especially in defense, have somewhat compensated for this.

Despite these concerns, the former England striker believes Arsenal can overcome this difficult period. "They have an advantage, and Manchester City is also inconsistent. Arsenal will have more stumbles; that's normal", Lineker remarked.

Hong Duy (according to Football365)