Arsenal Face Scrutiny As Title Race Intensifies After Leeds Test

Arsenal’s Premier League campaign has reached a fever pitch, and the debate swirling around their credentials as true title contenders just refuses to die down. With the Gunners sitting atop the table, four points clear of both Manchester City and Aston Villa, the North London side’s recent form and the strength of their squad have come under intense scrutiny from pundits and fans alike. But is this Arsenal side as flawed as some critics claim, or are they simply grinding out results the way all champions must?

Heading into their much-anticipated clash with newly promoted Leeds United at Elland Road, the pressure was firmly on Mikel Arteta’s men. Arsenal had failed to notch a win in their last three league outings, raising eyebrows about their ability to maintain momentum in the title race. Leeds, meanwhile, have been a revelation at home this season, making Elland Road a fortress and earning a reputation for frustrating even the league’s elite. Former Manchester United star Paul Scholes, never one to mince words, anticipated a tough afternoon for Arsenal, predicting a 1-1 draw and hinting at the Gunners’ current vulnerability.

“I think 1-1,” Scholes told the Metro, reflecting the uncertainty that now hangs over Arsenal’s campaign. And who could blame him? The Gunners may boast one of the deepest squads in England, but recent weeks have shown cracks in their armor. Their ability to bounce back from adversity will be crucial if they’re to keep their noses in front as the season barrels toward its dramatic conclusion.

But it isn’t just Arsenal’s form that’s fueling the conversation. The quality of their attack has come under fire from some of football’s most respected voices. Jamie Carragher, speaking on Sky Sports, didn’t hold back: “I still think that Arsenal are the best team in the league, they still have the best squad. There is a lot of criticism of Mikel Arteta right now. But for years I have said that if he does win the Premier League, he will do it like Jose Mourinho, not like Pep Guardiola. Who will care if he actually does it?” Carragher’s point was clear—results matter above all, but he questioned whether Arsenal have the attacking superstar needed to light up the league.

“There is one thing that I have always considered an obstacle to Arsenal's title win. I don't think it will prevent it this season, but they don't have a real superstar in attack. They don't have someone who would do what, for example, Mohamed Salah did for Liverpool last season, or Erling Haaland did earlier for Manchester City, or Eden Hazard for Chelsea. They lack such a player,” Carragher explained. He went on to note that, despite leading the league by six or seven points, not a single Arsenal forward would make his team of the season’s front four. That’s almost unheard of for a side in their position.

Paul Scholes took the critique a step further, suggesting, “If Arsenal win the league, this could be the worst team to win the league. If you're thinking of picking a team of the season and picking the front four, nobody from the Arsenal team gets in that. Look at previous champions—Liverpool's forwards, brilliant. Possibly the only one is Bukayo Saka, and I don't think he's been brilliant. He's not scored many goals this year or assists.”

There’s no denying the numbers back up some of these claims. Arsenal’s top scorer, Viktor Gyokeres, has managed just five goals so far, two of which came from the penalty spot. Leandro Trossard leads the team in combined goals and assists with nine, while Saka—arguably the brightest of Arsenal’s attacking talents—has four goals and three assists to his name. Gabriel Martinelli’s lone league goal was a crucial winner against Manchester City, but it’s slim pickings elsewhere. Gabriel Jesus is only just returning from injury, and new signing Noni Madueke has yet to register a goal or assist in his 14 appearances. The numbers, at least, offer ammunition to the critics.

Yet, not everyone is buying the narrative that Arsenal are destined for disappointment—or that their potential title would be tainted by a lack of flair. Arsenal legend Ian Wright was quick to leap to his club’s defense after Scholes’ “worst team” comments went viral. In a spirited exchange, Wright challenged Scholes to clarify his remarks. Scholes softened his stance, explaining that he meant “most boring” rather than “worst.” Wright, ever the passionate Gunner, was having none of it. “I’d take boring and win,” he said, reminding everyone that Arsenal haven’t lifted the league trophy in nearly 22 years. Wright also pointed out that Manchester United’s 1996/97 title-winning side finished with just 75 points—the lowest total in Premier League history—whereas this Arsenal side is on track for a much more impressive haul.

“None of Arsenal's forwards would make the team of the season except possibly Saka,” Scholes reiterated, but Wright countered by highlighting the team’s collective achievements and defensive solidity, which have been the bedrock of their campaign. As of now, Arsenal lead Manchester City and Aston Villa by four points, with Manchester United trailing by a distant 12. The Gunners’ resilience, rather than their attacking fireworks, has been the story of their season.

And what about the defense? If Arsenal’s attackers have failed to set the league alight, their back line has drawn widespread praise. Paul Scholes himself singled out Jurrien Timber as “unbelievable,” claiming the Dutch defender has outperformed even the much-lauded Declan Rice this term. “I think your defenders have probably had a bigger influence than Declan Rice. I think Timber has been unbelievable. I think he has been brilliant,” Scholes said on The Overlap. Timber’s consistency and composure have made him a mainstay in Arteta’s side, and his performances haven’t gone unnoticed by rival coaches either.

Former Chelsea player and coach Jody Morris added his own perspective to the right-back debate, hailing Chelsea’s Reece James as the “best in the world” when fit, but conceding that Timber’s reliability and versatility have been vital for Arsenal. “I got asked about the Premier League Team of the Year the other day and I put Timber at right-back. Timber’s not a better right-back than Reece James, but he’s playing there all the time. For me, if Reece plays right-back the majority of the time, he’ll be the best right-back in the world along with Hakimi,” Morris said, before praising Timber’s influence on Arsenal’s season.

As Arsenal prepare for their next test at Elland Road, the questions linger. Can they rediscover their attacking spark, or will their defensive steel and collective grit carry them over the line? The critics may carp about style, but as Ian Wright and many Arsenal fans would argue, substance and silverware matter most. With the title race heating up and every point at a premium, all eyes remain fixed on the Gunners’ quest for glory.