Arteta says Arsenal WON'T win the PL if they remain so wasteful in front of goal

Mikel Arteta admitted Arsenal will not win the league if his team continue to be so wasteful in front of goal.

The Gunners had 30 shots against West Ham on Thursday night and 77 touches in their opponents’ penalty area but couldn’t find a way though, going down 2-0 to opponents who only managed six efforts on goal.

Arsenal have dropped eight points in their last four Premier League games, relinquishing top spot to Liverpool.

Strikers they have been linked with include Ivan Toney of Brentford, Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins and Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, but all would be too expensive to sign next month.

Ahead of their trip to Fulham tomorrow, Arteta said: ‘If we don’t improve in the boxes, no (we won’t win the title) because at the end, that is what it is. ‘It’s not panic.

'It is about trying to do more, do better and win games.’ Manchester City, who have a game in hand, will be level on points with the Gunners if they beat Sheffield United today.

The Spaniard did praise the ‘spark’ his side possess and warned against peeking over their shoulder at rivals, as they sit 10 points worse off at the midway point of the season compared to last year.

‘Without a spark, you don’t generate what the team generated (against West Ham), it is impossible,’ Arteta added, having suffered his first home league defeat since May.

‘But it is the final thing, the final touch, the final action that puts the ball in the net or not. That is what we need.

‘We have to do what we can control. It’s not time to look at other teams. You see how difficult it is for other teams and it is going to continue to be like that, because the level of the league is incredible.’