Ian Wright has insisted Arsenal lack goals will cost them the top four as he tipped North London rivals Tottenham to claim the final Champions League space in the final weeks of the Premier League season.
Mikel Arteta’s side suffered a shock second successive defeat on Saturday, losing 2-1 at home to Brighton. (Image: Getty Images)
Scoring goals on a consistent basis has been an evident issue for Arsenal this season and their profligacy in attack was on show once again against Brighton.
The Gunners managed 20 shots during the match but had just four on target. Potter’s side, meanwhile, had eight shots, three on target and scored with two of them.
And the former striker Wright believes Spurs will take fourth, though, insisting the difference between the two rivals is the amount of goals scored. Conte’s side have scored 21 in their last six games, while Arsenal have managed seven in the same period.
“Tottenham, I think. Especially when you look at the way they can score. Arsenal are not scoring,” Wright told Match of the Day when asked who would win fourth place. fellow pundit Danny Murphy agreed, adding: “It’s the goals, isn’t it. It’s the quality in the final third. I agree.”
Striker Alexander Lacazette has gone over 20 hours of Premier League football without scoring from open play. The Frenchman is out of contract at the end of the season and Arsenal will desperately try to strengthen their front line in the summer transfer window.
- Lacazette’s scoring struggles
- Four goals in 25 league games in 2021/22
- Only one goal in last 11 appearances
- No shots on target in last four appearance
- No goals from open play since December 11
“any successful team needs enough goal threat in the squad,” Arteta told Sky Sports in March – but until then their options beyond Lacazette are limited to Eddie Nketiah, who has not started a Premier League game all season, or the redeployment of a supporting forward such as Martinelli or Smith Rowe.
Spurs have leapfrogged Arsenal into fourth due to the successive defeats by Brighton and Crystal Palace. They have a three-point lead but Arsenal have a game in hand.