Mikel Arteta can finally unleash dream Arsenal attack consistently as title reality emerges
Arsenal were able to score more goals last season than they ever have before during a Premier League campaign. The 88 goals were an impressive tally that only league winners Manchester City (94) could better and perhaps again highlighted why they were able to secure the title.
This season, there have been questions about the fluidity, creativity and assuredness of this Arsenal squad. Games have been tightly contested on multiple occasions and only the Bournemouth and PSV 4-0 wins represent a significant swing in the Gunners’ favour.
So far Mikel Arteta’s side have 18 goals in the league which is five off what they had after nine games last season. Perhaps not a huge gap but it’s worth remembering that five goals can win you five games or swing at least a couple of matches in your favour.
The 88 of last season was majorly thanks to the usual suspects of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus. Granit Xhaka also had a perhaps surprising hand in a small percentage of the tally as well.
Therefore why has there been such a dip this season? I think there are multiple reasons but perhaps the most obvious has been staring the majority of Arsenal supporters in the face for the bulk of the season.
The 2-2 draw with Chelsea might not have been the best performance, however, it was the first match in which Arsenal’s best-attacking front three were able to start a game. Saka, Jesus and Martinelli are clearly the best front three the club have at their disposal with fantastic depth in Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz and Emile Smith Rowe to name just a few.
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