I'll write something kinda long, I hope don't break any rule.
Araquanid has been the mon that I have use most since USUM came out and I think that its analysis is missing some important aspects that can be worth of mention.
The analysis start saying that Araquanid is a suicide lead for sticky web teams but in my own experience Araquanid has a bad match up against almost every common lead/anti-lead and, like the analysis itself says, is vulnerable against hazard control, I rarely use it as the lead.
I posted in the viability ranking thread about why Araquanid must be ranked higher than Shuckle (and seems that it will end with Shuckle dropping instead Araquanid raising) and one of my arguments is that Araquanid thanks to its typing, bulk and ability can take adventage of some of the most common Pokémon in the tier to set up SW or even KO them, this support the idea that Araquanid doesn't have to be always the lead and it can set up the SW early or even in the mid game.
Sticky web teams are falling in viability beacause the new and old defoggers make hard keeping the sticky web in the field so the Araquanid's capacity fo setting up it multiple times if needed thanks to the favorable match ups it has can be worth of mention.
The analysis mentions that it can be good in Trick Room but I think that also should be mentioned that it can be useful against it, since the Araquanid's speed is irrelevant and even is lowered if you run HP fire to lure Kartana, running a min speed Araquanid can be good to take adventage of the abysmal Araquanid's speed to take adventage of your rival's trick room because Araquanid is slower than the most common trick room abusers.
And finally, I think that can be mentioned that Araquanid has wallbreaking capabilities, according to the showdown calculator, Araquanid's Liquidation hits as hard as non choice specs Ash-Greninja's Hydro Pump thanks to Water Bubble:
252 SpA Greninja-Ash Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mew: 204-240 (59.8 - 70.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Water Bubble Araquanid Liquidation vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Mew: 204-242 (59.8 - 70.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Keeping that in mind makes easy to imagine that almost nothing appreciates switch in into an attack from Araquanid, so usually when Araquanid forces a switch in to your opponent's water resist or something that is assumed that can take hits from Araquanid, like a physical wall, can happen two things: the mon that enters to the field threatens Araquanid at the point where you will lose a lot not matter what if you don't switch (like Amoonguss, Tapu Bulu or Ferrothorn) or the answer to Araquanid kinda walls you and staying can be bad for you but it also can't do much against you (Toxapex setting Toxic Spikes). In the second scenario Araquanid can take down one of your opponent's Pokémon or keeping with low HP a wall for its teamates if you run Metronome in Araquanid, if switch in into Liquidation is hard, with the boost gained after a couple turns is nearly imposible without get a KO. The Metronome's boosts combinated with the chance of dropping the opponent defense creates a situation where your opponent can lose one or two Pokémon if makes a mistake or doesn't have a counterplay to it with the mon is taking the hits (examples: Toxapex with Haze, Scald, recover and Toxic Spikes or Mew with Defog, Soft Boild, WoW and Ice beam).
You can say that any Pokémon can do the same thing with Metronome and you'll be right but I think that Araquanid takes more advantage of it thanks to its speed, while faster mons can be handled better thanks to slow volt/turn users, Araquanid being slower than the most of slow volt/turn users potencially can force a sacrifice in order to be revenge killed, while also boost the power of non water moves and avoids became a set up fodder against some mons like Mega Latias and Mega-Scizor.
I think is important mention it because Araquanid, in my opinion, outclasses other Sticky web setters for its offensive presence now that bulky offense is raising and sometimes the sticky web isn't required and vs stall the other sticky webs setters except for Ribombee are dead weight thanks to Sableye while if you run Araquanid with Metronome it can take a KO if your opponent doesn't toxic it in the first turns where it enters to the field.
Summary:
- Araquanid hasn't to be always the lead unless your team really needs it, other offensive hazard setters like Z-Fly Landorus or Mega-Diancie can be better options to lead according the match up and has good synergy with Araquanid, Diancie can scare or KO anti leads like Zapdos, Kyurem Black or another hazard setters while Landorus can check lead Tapu Koko and Hawlucha (a huge pain for SW teams) in the late game while Araquanid checks Ash Greninja forcing it to choose carefully in what it want to be locked with its choice specs.
- Araquanid has good matchups against common Pokémon in the tier such Heatran, defensive or scarf Landorus locked in nve attack (is recommendable scout this first, any z move can OHKO Araquanid), Keldeo, Ash Greninja, etc, Allowing it setting SW multiple times if is needed.
- Its offensive capacities and low speed (to avoid slow volt/turn) can make it a threat for your opponent's team under the right circumstances. While supports the team offensively versus Trick Room teams outspeeding under it the most common abusers and versus stall being able to do much damage to the opponent's team and potentially keeping some walls with low HP for its teammates or even get a KO, something that others SW setters can't do habitually.
