The one Arsenal flaw that could become a problem in special season | OneFootball

Gunners continue to rack up wins across all competitions, though Mikel Arteta has one familiar issue that persists

There is becoming a fairly consistent theme to Mikel Arteta's post-match Arsenal press conferences.

Five of Arsenal's last eight wins have come by a one-goal margin. There was also a penalty shootout against Crystal Palace to settle a match that should have been put to bed long before.

At Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night, Arteta admitted that Arsenal's 3-2 win over Chelsea should really have been a scoreline that killed off the Carabao Cup semi-final tie.

"With so much quality on that pitch, we had the feeling at the end after the 1-3 and the very dominant period that we had in that time, that we had two massive chances to score the fourth one and the result would have been very different," he said.

There was an obvious feeling of Déjà vu. After a 2-1 win over Brighton last month, Arteta said: "The margins should have been much bigger. I mean, with the amount of situations, chances, open chances that we generated through the game, it should never be 2-1."

That echoed comments made after the Gunners conceded late to be taken to penalties by Palace in the Carabao Cup quarters, before Arteta's side ultimately came through.

"I think today the margin should have been much bigger – it should have been three or four and then you’re not worried about what happens in the last minutes," Arteta said.

Three days earlier, Arsenal beat Everton 1-0 and the same analysis was wheeled out. "In the second half, we had three massive chances to score a second goal or the third one, we didn't do it," Arteta said.

There is a sense that Arsenal’s struggles to finish teams off could start to catch up on them

"You can suffer at the end - we didn't because we haven't conceded anything - but overall the margins maybe could have been bigger."

Since Arsenal lost to Aston Villa in early December, they are unbeaten in 10 matches and only Liverpool have denied them a win. Results have been superb but there is a sense that the team's struggles to finish opponents off could start to catch up on them.

There have been some tactical mistakes involved in that. Against Wolves, for example, Arsenal dropped far too deep with their narrow lead and invited a goal from the visitors.

On the whole, though, it feels more like a case of relaxing. When Arsenal get two goals up they have too often switched off and been punished for it.

When the margin is then back to just a one-goal lead, particularly in the latter stages of matches, the defending has largely been brilliant and teams have been given no sniff of an equaliser.

Missed chances have also been costly. At 3-1 up against Chelsea, Mikel Merino caught his volley so sweetly but was denied by an outstretched foot from Robert Sanchez.

Gabriel had a huge opportunity from a corner, the kind he regularly puts away, but this time headed into the ground and over the crossbar. Those would surely have made it tie over.

Instead, sloppy goals conceded kept Chelsea in it. For the first, Martin Zubimendi slipped, William Saliba was not strong enough in the challenge and Arsenal were caught exposed.

Finding form: Viktor Gyokeres enjoyed his best Arsenal performance so far against Chelsea

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For the second, Kepa Arrizabalaga flapped at a corner and that was enough to send Chelsea to the Emirates Stadium still just about in touching distance.

A positive sign for Arsenal getting better at finishing teams off was the performance of Viktor Gyokeres, who had his best night in an Arsenal shirt.

He battled hard with defenders again but crucially there were decisive contributions in the box. Gyokeres was on the scene for a tap-in and then flicked the ball into Zubimendi's path for a nice assist.

Arsenal need a ruthless finisher in front of goal to alleviate the tension they have been putting themselves under and perhaps Gyokeres, with renewed confidence, can start to be that man.

Arsenal are too good a team to be leaving the margins, as Arteta puts it, so thin. There is enough stress in a title race and the latter stages of knockout competitions as it is. Putting themselves under even more is just about their only flaw right now.