Arsenal Look to Makeshift Attacking Option to Push Premier League Title Bid

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Having finished as runners-up to Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering Man City in each of the last two Premier League campaigns, Arsenal fans should be full of glee to see their side racing far ahead of the Etihad Stadium side in 2024/25.

1 day ago
Sadly, the fact that Arne Slot’s Liverpool side has gone off like a speeding train has somewhat dampened the mood in the red half of North London.
A lack of a free-scoring out-and-out striker has concerned Arsenal fans, and no doubt manager Mikel Arteta, for a good few seasons now, and a spate of injuries to those carrying the goalscoring load has left the team having to come up with innovative ways to deal with the problem, especially as efforts to land a new addition in January proved fruitless.
Arsenal returned from their warm weather training camp in Dubai ready to put the pressure back on Liverpool, knowing full well that a similar break last season saw Arteta’s side see out the campaign in blistering form. Fans who want to back the Gunners to finally land their first title in over twenty years can make good use of these excellent sportsbook promo codes, which will help make your bet as close to risk-free as possible.
With Kai Havertz suffering an apparent season-ending injury in Dubai and with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, and Gabriel Martinelli all also out, Arteta named a front three of Ethan Nwaneri, Leandro Trossard and Raheem Sterling for their away trip to struggling Leicester City.
It was an attack that universally failed to make an impact, with Nwaneri’s efforts being the only ones worthy of note, the teenager hitting the woodwork twice. That led to desperate measures.
Arteta flung on Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino to play in a central attacking role, one that he had little to no experience in. Within just twelve minutes the decision was already looking like an inspired one. A beautiful ball into the box from Nwaneri was expertly headed home by the former Real Sociedad man.
Just six minutes later, a hopeful floated cross from Trossard was calmly fired home by Merino to settle the contest to give Arsenal a 2-0 win. The 28-year-old made scoring goals look easy and will, to some extent, allay the concerns of supporters who were unhappy with the lack of a striker signing in the notoriously tricky January window.
The win, admittedly against poor opposition, will be seen as a chink of light, and Arteta will hope that dropping points in the running could be avoided. This is crucial given just how much of a lead Liverpool possess, where even a draw in any fixture from now until the end of the season could prove disastrous.
It is now key for Arsenal to stay there or thereabouts so that when they travel to Merseyside to face Liverpool towards the end of the campaign, a three-point haul could put them truly in contention.
One could argue that a lack of foresight left Arsenal in this position, and it’s a flaw in the club’s otherwise splendid squad that has long been known, is something that could and should have been avoided, but talk of such matters can, and should, be left to one side until the season is done and dusted.

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