It has only been a year, but Arsenal have seen a 61% decline in one area – it’s massively concerning for Mikel Arteta

February was a difficult month for Arsenal and their Premier League title aspirations.

After failing to secure a forward in the transfer window, Kai Havertz was ruled out for the season, while Gabriel Martinelli suffered a hamstring injury which has seen him miss the last few weeks.

These setbacks came after Arsenal thrashed Manchester City at the Emirates, a result that proceeded a poor run of performances.

Mikel Arteta’s team scraped past a dismal Leicester team courtesy of a brace from Mikel Merino, before losing in dire fashion at home to West Ham and dropping points away at Nottingham Forest.

Arsenal’s February 2024 vs February 2025

Arsenal’s 2024/25 season has generally been frustrating, plagued by injuries and suspension, but February might have been the most challenging month yet for Arteta’s men.

Injury setbacks have meant the Gunners have been forced to field a makeshift forward line that looks completely incapable of scoring goals.

West Ham eased past Arsenal at the Emirates, before Forest comfortably secured a point against the North Londoners at the City Ground.

As a result of these dropped points, Arsenal find themselves cut 13 points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool, with only the Champions League left to play for in the remaining three months of the season.

Compare this to how Arteta’s side fared last February, and the difference couldn’t be more stark.

Arsenal won four league games out of four this time last year, beating Liverpool 3-1, West Ham 6-0, Burnley 5-0 and Newcastle 4-1 in the process.

They were at their rip-roaring best, cruising past teams on their way to usurping the Merseysiders at the top of the table before the March run-in commenced.

12 months can make a huge difference, and the feeling around the club couldn’t be more contrasting.

Facing a similar run of fixtures in both years, Arsenal’s 61% decline in goals scored over the two sets of Februarys should be extremely alarming to Arteta.

While the injuries are indeed inhibiting the Spaniard’s side, the extent of the drastic drop-off points to a general decline in attacking threat.

The shining light will be that, amidst the offensive issues, Arsenal remain an excellent team defensively.

Arsenal should improve in March

Bukayo Saka is expected to return in mid-March, while Martinelli is likely to be back in training in the next week or so.

With the duo of wingers available again, Arsenal will have to rely less on using Merino as a striker and less on an out-of-sorts Raheem Sterling.

This should lead to the Gunners carrying significantly more threat, while the fixture schedule isn’t too demanding this month.

Arsenal have just two Premier League games in March – a trip to Old Trafford to face a poor Manchester United and a home game against struggling Chelsea.

The PSV Eindhoven Champions League tie also awaits, while the second half of the month is taken up by an international break.

If improvements aren’t made in this relatively light month, then more taxing questions will begin to be asked of Arteta and his players.