Mikel Arteta addresses Arsenal’s goal-scoring issues: ‘There’s a psychological factor at play’

Arsenal suffered a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in the FA Cup, with Mikel Arteta expressing his concerns about the team’s struggles in front of goal. The Gunners have only managed to score five goals in their last seven games across all competitions, leading Arteta to believe that their issues have become psychological. Arsenal’s poor finishing was evident in the match against Liverpool, as they missed numerous chances before Jakub Kiwior’s own goal and Luis Diaz’s late strike sealed their fate. The team’s underperformance in relation to their expected goals numbers has also been a cause for concern.

Arteta acknowledged the disappointment of the result, particularly considering Arsenal’s dominant performance against a strong Liverpool side. He emphasized the need to convert chances against top teams in order to secure victories. However, he also expressed his doubts about the likelihood of making signings in the January transfer window to address the team’s goal-scoring problems. Arteta’s focus is on improving the current group of players and achieving better results with them.

Looking ahead, Arteta mentioned the upcoming winter break and the team’s trip to Dubai. He emphasized the players’ effort and attitude, but acknowledged the need to change their momentum and find solutions in the opponents’ half. Arsenal’s recent struggles in front of goal have frustrated the fans, as evident in one supporter’s plea for the club to sign a striker. Names like Ivan Toney and Dominic Solanke have been linked to Arsenal, but Arteta dismissed the idea as unrealistic and reiterated his commitment to working with the current squad.

The Gunners’ goal-scoring issues have been further compounded by injuries to players like Gabriel Jesus and the lack of impact from others, such as Havertz and Nketiah. Saka and Martinelli have also struggled to find their form. Arsenal’s current run of three straight defeats is cause for concern, and Arteta recognizes the importance of finding solutions during the winter break. The team will use this time for warm-weather training in Dubai before resuming their season.