Arsenal travel to Anfield on Sunday looking to respond to one of the most embarrassing results of Mikel Arteta’s tenure - but their Carabao Cup exit to Fleetwood Town has raised questions that go beyond a single disappointing evening.
The Premier League champions were knocked out by League Two opposition on penalties after a 1-1 draw on Tuesday, writes Sports News Blitz’s Almonzer Hussain.
Despite dominating possession and registering 26 shots, Arsenal could only find the net once.
It was a heavily-rotated side, and Max Dowman’s late dismissal made matters more difficult, but a squad with Arsenal’s quality and depth should still have been capable of winning the tie.
The result was particularly frustrating because, less than a week earlier, Arsenal had produced an impressive performance in a 2-2 draw away to Bayern Munich.
It demonstrated their ability to compete against elite opposition, making the failure to overcome Fleetwood even harder to explain.
Sunday’s meeting with Liverpool presents another significant test, particularly for an Arsenal attack that has struggled to match the consistency of the players behind it.
Arsenal’s strong foundations cannot always compensate for their attack
Arsenal’s greatest strength remains the quality of their defensive and midfield options.
David Raya has established himself as one of the game’s leading goalkeepers, while the depth available to Arteta across defence gives Arsenal a strong foundation even when important players are missing.
That quality extends into midfield.
Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard and Bruno Guimarães offer an impressive combination of physicality, technical ability and control, with Martín Zubimendi and Myles Lewis-Skelly providing further options.
It is a major reason Arsenal have remained so competitive over recent seasons.
Their ability to control matches, limit opposition opportunities and protect narrow leads has often compensated for an attack that has not consistently delivered the same level of quality.
The concerns in the final third are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
Bukayo Saka’s fitness problems have disrupted Arsenal’s attacking rhythm, while the departures of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have changed their options out wide.
The responsibility on those remaining has increased, but the necessary consistency has not followed.
Fans divided over Havertz
Kai Havertz continues to divide opinion.
His movement, link-up play and ability to operate between midfield and attack offer Arteta tactical flexibility, but there are legitimate questions over whether he provides the finishing quality Arsenal need from a central attacking player.
Mikel Merino offers an interesting alternative.
Although naturally a midfielder, his ability to arrive in dangerous positions and finish chances has been evident for both Arsenal and Spain.
His contributions to Spain’s World Cup-winning campaign underline that goalscoring instinct.
Viktor Gyökeres presents a different problem.
His direct, physical approach can be effective, but his technical qualities and movement have not always appeared suited to Arsenal’s more intricate attacking combinations.
His equaliser against Fleetwood was his first goal of the season, highlighting how difficult his start has been.
The issue is not simply whether Arsenal can create chances - it is whether their forwards can consistently turn control and territory into goals.
Liverpool have the firepower to punish missed opportunities
Liverpool have endured an inconsistent start to the campaign, but their attacking options remain a considerable threat.
Alexander Isak, Bradley Barcola and Cody Gakpo give Liverpool pace, movement and individual quality in the final third.
Isak in particular has begun finding his goalscoring form, while Barcola has demonstrated his ability to influence matches through both goals and creativity.
Florian Wirtz has faced scrutiny following his expensive arrival and has not consistently reached the standards expected of him, although his recent contributions suggest signs of improvement.
Liverpool’s performances have not always been convincing.
Their penalty shootout victory over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup was another example of a result achieved without complete control of the match.
Nevertheless, they have shown enough against strong opposition to make Arsenal wary.
At Anfield, Liverpool will also have the backing of a crowd capable of lifting the intensity of their performance.
That atmosphere alone will not win the game, but it can make an already demanding fixture even more difficult for visiting sides.
The midfield battle could decide Sunday’s contest
The most intriguing aspect of this meeting may be the contrast between Arsenal’s midfield strength and Liverpool’s attacking threat.
With Dominik Szoboszlai facing a fitness battle, Liverpool could be without an important source of energy, creativity and pressing intensity.
Arsenal have the personnel to take advantage.
Rice and Guimarães offer the physical presence to compete for second balls and disrupt Liverpool’s rhythm, while Ødegaard can provide the technical quality needed to dictate possession and create opportunities.
Yet dominating midfield will mean little if Arsenal fail to make their superiority count.
Liverpool do not necessarily need sustained possession to cause problems.
With Isak and Barcola capable of exploiting space and converting opportunities, the hosts could threaten even during periods when Arsenal control the game.
That is precisely where Arsenal’s attacking concerns become most significant.
Their defence and midfield can provide the platform, but they cannot continually be expected to deliver the decisive moments as well.
Too early for title decider talk
Sunday is far too early to be described as a title decider.
Instead, it offers an important indication of how effectively both teams can overcome their weaknesses.
Arsenal have the structure and midfield quality to take control at Anfield.
Liverpool have the attacking players to punish them if that control fails to produce goals.
For Arteta’s side, the challenge is clear: their attack must begin matching the standards set by the rest of the team.
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