Arsenal's Victories Mask Underlying Issues Despite Deep Bench

Arsenal's impressive run of victories is masking an underlying deficiency in their style of play, despite the team's considerable depth and financial investment in their bench. The club has secured 10 wins in 11 matches across all competitions, but these results have papered over a concerning trend of failing to score in the first half for six consecutive games and a lack of clinical finishing.

Against Nottingham Forest, it was once again Arsenal's deep and expensive bench that ultimately prised the victory open. Noni Madueke, brought on at halftime, scored the match-winning goal in the 80th minute. This strike was Arsenal's sole shot on target in the entire match, a statistic that highlights their difficulties in creating clear-cut chances.

This pattern of late goals and struggles for early dominance has been observed before. Against Leeds, Bruno Guimaraes came off the bench to score after a lackluster first hour for Arsenal. Similarly, substitutions of Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, and Martin Odegaard were instrumental in their mid-week Champions League win against Lille.

Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager, acknowledged the tactical challenges posed by opponents like Nottingham Forest, who adopted a compact defensive shape. "We didn't even hit the target, which is the difference," Arteta said. "I had the belief that the moment the physical level was going to drop, the spaces would be a little bit bigger. And then we have to suffer."

However, the analysis suggests that even without a specific defensive formation, Arsenal's inability to create chances is a more fundamental issue. Nottingham Forest, like many teams facing Arsenal, ceded possession and focused on absorbing pressure, largely keeping the Gunners at bay for significant portions of the match. Liam Delap's physicality also caused problems for Arsenal's central defenders.

The club's bench, valued at over £300 million, is arguably strong enough to compete for a top-four spot on its own. However, this reliance on second-half substitutions to unlock defenses is not a sustainable strategy against stronger opposition, who may punish Arsenal before any potential changes can be made.

Eberechi Eze's Challenging Period

Amidst these tactical discussions, Eberechi Eze's situation at Arsenal has also come under scrutiny. His substitution at halftime against Nottingham Forest, after a difficult first half where he struggled to assert influence and lost possession multiple times, echoes a similar incident against Aston Villa in December 2025. On that occasion, a defensive lapse during the build-up to Villa's opening goal led to Eze being benched.

Eze's start against Forest marked his first league start of the season, a chance arising from an injury to teammate Christos Tzolis. With Noni Madueke also on the bench after an inconsistent start to the campaign, the pressure on Eze to perform was significant. The psychological challenge for a player in such circumstances, knowing another league start might be distant, is considerable.

Arteta's decision to substitute Eze at the break, leaving him as the only Arsenal player to be replaced at halftime, has been interpreted as a potentially telling statement. The coming weeks will be crucial for Eze's future at the club, requiring careful management from Arteta to help the talented attacker regain confidence and form.