Mikel Arteta confirmed after the loss to Manchester City that "the battle is still open," but recent developments in the Premier League race have made things more complicated. After City's 1-0 win over Burnley, both teams are now level on points (70 points each), with City ahead on goal difference, just five rounds before the end of the season. Arsenal had spent 209 days at the top before dropping to second place.

In recent times, Arsenal has experienced a noticeable decline in results, managing only six victories in their last 13 matches, following consecutive losses to Bournemouth and Manchester City. This allowed City to regain momentum at a crucial moment in the season.

The debate has arisen over whether Arsenal should abandon the "narrow victories" approach and adopt a bolder offensive strategy in the remaining matches.

Statistics reveal that Arsenal achieved 10 victories with a 1-0 scoreline out of 21 league wins, which is approximately 48% of their total victories. This percentage is considered one of the highest for a title-contending team since Leicester City in the 2015-2016 season.

The team also scores only 1.15 goals from open play per match, putting it on a path that could make it the lowest scoring from open play among league champions in the modern era, alongside a scoring rate of 1.91 goals per match.

Experts in sports psychology believe that a decline in performance may be linked to mental pressure as the end of the season approaches, as some teams tend to lose intensity and focus when they feel close to achieving their goal.

On the other hand, analysts assert that Arsenal possesses high technical quality and the ability to deliver a strong offensive performance if it regains its usual boldness. As the match against Newcastle approaches, the team finds itself facing a crucial test to prove its ability to convert good performances into more convincing victories rather than relying on narrow results.