Thierry Henry deals a severe blow to Arsenal, led by Mikel Arteta

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has accused his former side of becoming too “predictable” amid a recent run of Premier League results that relied heavily on set-pieces.

Arsenal were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Everton on Saturday, having scored just two goals out of their previous eight matches. Premier League Goals from open play. In a 2-0 win over Manchester United and a 1-1 draw with Fulham earlier in December, Arsenal could only score from corner kicks.

The 3-0 Champions League win over Monaco last week was a bit different because the Ligue 1 side played into Arsenal’s hands by leaving spaces to exploit. But local rivals have figured out how to defend against Mikel Arteta’s side to limit open play.

“I would say it’s very predictable. You wouldn’t say it’s not good to score from set-pieces, it’s great. Before the game (Sporting Lisbon), it took us a year to score away from home in Europe, and it took us a year to score away from home in Europe,” Henry said in a lengthy analysis for: “Now the last three goals scored in the league have come from set pieces.” Sky Sports.

The Frenchman showed a number of Arsenal Clips from recent matches to highlight his point that there is not enough creativity and that the default position is to give the ball to Bukayo Saka.

“Think about Liverpool, when Mohamed Salah runs inside, you have Joe Gomez or Diogo Jota or (Darwin) Nunez running (on the left), or Connor Bradley sometimes running inside. Look at what Bukayo Saka has against Manchester United,” Henry said. Indicating that there are no serious options to pass to.

“But it’s predictable, we all know he’s going to play with (Martin) Odegaard, everyone sees that. Can you beat the goal line? You can pass to Declan Rice and enjoy a quick 3-on-2. That’s called creativity, playing between the lines, attracting players.” “. Opposite one way and go the other to see what you can do.

“It’s very predictable, it goes to (Olexandr) Zinchenko. Zinchenko can play to his wing, but he doesn’t, he prefers to play as a ’10’, and if he plays on the wing, the ’10’ can He makes the goal.

Henry was particularly scathing about Gabriel Martinelli in the same game, focusing on the moment when the Brazilian had the opportunity to run the ball into space behind his marker.

“Martinelli, 1-on-1 with (Diogo) Dalot. Would you like to think that’s enough space (to pass Dalot), they don’t double up, and by the time (Mathijs) De Ligt gets there, I don’t think he’ll do it.” We will succeed,” Henry assumed.

He highlighted the ballboy who sat courtside in about the middle of the half court as a sign: “If I’m the winger, as soon as I pass this ballboy, I’m gone, and I’m not coming back.”

But Martinelli turned back and quickly ended up wide of the goal.

“You’re not playing a 1-on-1 game,” Henry said. “Maybe after a little more than ten seconds, look at where your winger is, in a 1v1 situation, and now look where he is. We’ve worked on putting you in a 1v1 situation, why you bring the ball into play (on the pitch).” midline)?

Martinelli’s decision-making came under further criticism against Everton, with Henry highlighting a clip showing three Arsenal players in threatening positions in the penalty area.

“That’s what I try to say sometimes,” Henry said with a sigh. “(Critics) will say that Arsenal didn’t create the chances. They created them. It’s the choice you didn’t make.”

“Martinelli knows that if he plays with his shoulder and goes inside, he’ll have one, two, three passes. Shooting with his (weak) foot is the last thing he should have done.

“Then, when you’re in trouble at Arsenal, usually Bukayo Saka He tries to do what he can do. It’s transformed, can you run? No, they stay down while Bukayo goes around trying to get the better of everyone. But he can’t do it (alone) and the ball will be lost.”

Henry hinted that teams have discovered Arsenal. Although attacking set pieces are a valuable trait to have, they are Hide a deeper problem.

“Let’s say it, it’s not easy to face a team that will never jump (from the defensive shape),” he explained. “Nobody jumps on Arsenal anymore. Try Monaco, you saw the score (3-0). But if you don’t have bodies between the lines, to create decoys, it’s very difficult if you just give the ball to your players.” Wing on the right or on the left, and if that winger on the left doesn’t beat people, then you are (predictably) playing on the right.

“It has to be a team effort. I always say that it’s not because one player scores a lot of goals that you win the title. Everyone has to score and be important. We used (in 2002 and 2004) to create chances (on the left) and Freddy (on the left) Ljungberg (right) will run between the lines and score.

“When you want to be champions, that’s what happens to you too Man City Now – people adapt to what you do. What will you bring next year and the year after that? Set pieces are coming (for Arsenal), but don’t deviate from what you were and what you were doing before.”

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