Arsenal opened the season with a warning sign that has nothing to do with their defending. In the 3-0 Community Shield win over Manchester City, they scored three open-play goals but created zero set-piece chances, and Sky Sports are treating that split as the real issue in their title defence.

Arsenal's open-play problem

The concern is not that Arsenal cannot control games. It is that control has not always turned into enough chances in open play, especially in the biggest matches.

Last season they were not in the top three Premier League teams for key attacking metrics from open play. In the Champions League final, they went 114 minutes after taking the lead against Paris Saint-Germain without a shot on target. Those are the kinds of numbers that explain why the attack still feels like a work in progress even with a strong base.

Arsenal scored 71 Premier League goals last season and conceded 27, so the defensive platform is already there. The problem is the last step, turning possession into a steady flow of chances when opponents sit deeper and deny set-piece routes.

Odegaard as the swing factor

That is where Martin Odegaard comes in. Mikel Arteta said: "I'm sure this year if we can maintain him fit, available with the players around him, we're going to see a very different Martin."

The captain only managed 14 league starts last season, but he still averaged the third-highest chance creation rate per 90 in the Premier League. That is a strong hint of what Arsenal lose when he is not on the pitch for long enough stretches.

Arteta also said: "We will go from strength to strength. Whether it's the players we have, to take them to a different level, or with the market that is still open to recruit as well. We're optimistic about it."

The 85-point league season gives Arsenal a title-winning base, and their Champions League league phase, where they finished on 24 points with 23 goals scored and only four conceded, showed how far the structure can take them. But if the attack still leans too heavily on defending well and waiting for moments, the margin for a repeat title remains thin.

Arsenal's next league outing will tell us more about whether the open-play improvement from the Community Shield is real or just a one-off against Manchester City.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →