Arsenal is currently playing a style of football that feels like 'walking a tightrope'.

25/12/2025 15:09:00 ScoreStream

Currently, Arsenal can be likened to a tightrope walker at great height: each step is fraught with danger, and every moment leaves the audience holding their breath.

What’s remarkable is that despite this precarious balance, Mikel Arteta’s team seldom slips. They don’t overwhelmingly dominate or crush opponents but demonstrate admirable risk control and consistent stability.

The "tightrope" style of football

Statistics somewhat clearly illustrate this tendency. Out of 26 matches across all competitions this season, 12 of Arsenal’s games have been decided by a single goal or ended in draws. This accounts for nearly half of their matches, showing that Arsenal’s games often involve close contests where even the smallest mistake can be costly. This is the essence of "tightrope football," where everything remains fragile.

It’s not surprising that Arsenal went through a cup match that seemed under control but ultimately had to be settled by a tense penalty shootout. After 15 shots, with the score at 8-7, the decisive moment came: goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga guessed Maxence Lacroix’s shot direction and dived to make a crucial save, ending the intense duel with Crystal Palace.

Once again, Arsenal’s victory came down to the slimmest of margins. This raises the question: is such a playing style too risky? Are Arsenal "playing with fire" by repeatedly putting themselves under pressure in the final minutes? Conversely, there is reason to believe this is just a transitional phase, with Arteta and his players trying to survive and gather points amid less-than-ideal squad conditions before aiming for sharper and more ruthless performances.

It’s important to emphasize that this is not entirely a deliberate tactical choice. Arteta is striving to stay competitive across all competitions while managing imperfect resources, a challenge faced by most top clubs in the harsh realities of modern football.

For much of the early season, Arsenal had to play with a seriously depleted attack. Recently, their defense has also suffered damage. No one knows how much potential this team could unlock if they ever had a fully fit squad. But for now, Arteta must do whatever is necessary to get through each match.

Arsenal reached the Carabao Cup semi-finals after a nerve-wracking penalty shootout against Crystal Palace.

Arsenal’s last three consecutive wins have followed a similar pattern: tight, tense, and decided by fine margins. After one such game, Arteta admitted: "The margin should have been bigger; then we wouldn’t have worried about the final minutes. That’s something we need to improve and do better."

Arsenal is still moving in the right direction.

Arteta’s goal is not just to win but to achieve fluidity and refinement in their style. He expects this to happen as the attacking players build chemistry, especially since many haven’t had much time playing together.

In their most recent match, Arsenal fielded a somewhat experimental lineup: a goalkeeper mainly familiar from cup games, a defense with unfamiliar combinations, an unstable midfield, and an attack with unproven links. Still, in the first half, four attackers showed promise.

However, the usual problem reemerged: Arsenal wasted chances. Arteta understands the game shouldn’t have been so tense, but that’s the reality Arsenal faces. Overall, it’s hard to say they are doing anything wrong. They lead the Premier League and Champions League and have reached a cup semi-final. In this context, walking the tightrope might be a price worth paying.

Ahead, Arsenal have two more home matches before the calendar year ends, followed by a demanding January 2026 with nine games in 28 days across four competitions. Arteta’s squad rotation challenge will become especially interesting.

He views this challenge positively: "I see it as a privilege because of the players’ attitude. They make my job enjoyable. There were times when we had no choices up front, now it’s the defense. But that doesn’t matter. Players like Norgaard, Kepa, or anyone else are ready to perform their roles well every day."

Arsenal may be walking a thin line, but so far, they have maintained their balance. In the long run of elite football, sometimes the key is simply not to fall.

Coach Mikel Arteta clarified Arsenal’s squad situation after the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace, highlighting the cases of Piero Hincapie and Gabriel Martinelli. Hincapie’s unexpected absence from the squad list caused concern among fans, especially since the Ecuadorian defender has become a crucial part of the defense while Gabriel and Cristhian Mosquera are injured. According to Arteta, Hincapie had fitness problems during the 1-0 win over Everton last weekend, forcing the coaching staff to be cautious and avoid risking him against Palace.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Martinelli suffered an injury from a collision during the match. The Brazilian forward couldn’t continue after halftime due to pain from a knee clash with Jaydee Canvot. Arteta said it was mainly a minor impact and Martinelli felt uncomfortable continuing rather than having a serious injury.

Vũ Mạnh

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