Arteta We’re simply the best apart from at scoring goals!
MIKEL ARTETA has claimed Arsenal are statistically the best team in the league at ‘everything’ — apart from scoring goals.
The Gunners are on a three-match losing streak in all competitions, sit fourth in the table and have not won in the Premier League since a 2-0 victory over Brighton on December 17.
But ahead of their match against Crystal Palace today, Arteta was bullish about his side’s performances this season.
‘You look at all the data and it is Arsenal, Arsenal, Arsenal at the top,’ the Spanish boss said. ‘The reality is we haven’t won enough matches. There is something underneath that, it is like an onion. The first layer, second layer… we have to go to the bottom of it to understand what is making us win or lose.
‘It is the small details, the margins and then (what has happened in the penalty) boxes has played a big part of that. We have to change that.’
When asked whether Arsenal are the best in the league at everything apart from finishing, he replied: ‘If you look at it from that perspective, objectively what we are producing, the answer clearly is yes.’
In terms of raw statistics, Arsenal have the second best defence in the league having conceded just 20 goals, second only to leaders Liverpool. In attack they have scored only 37 goals, behind Manchester City (48), Tottenham (44), Aston Villa (43), Liverpool (43), Newcastle (41) and Brighton (38).
In the 2021-22 season, Emile Smith Rowe scored 11 goals for Arsenal and looked like he would be a key goalscorer for years to come, but injuries and loss of form mean he has hardly got on the pitch — never mind the scoresheet — since then.
Yet yesterday Arteta vowed to give the attacking midfielder more game time after Arsenal rebuffed interest from Villa, Newcastle and West Ham in the 23-year-old England star.
Smith Rowe has started only two games this season, against Brentford in the Carabao Cup and Sheffield United in the Premier League.
A loan might have benefited the attacker but Smith Rowe is happy at the club under Arteta.
The Hammers particularly felt the talented technician could have helped them get around their shortage of attackers, particularly after Lucas Paqueta’s calf injury.
‘I’m really happy with Emile,’ said Arteta. ‘He’s on the right trajectory. He’s settled, he’s training really well.
‘Emile is Emile. We know he’s got incredible qualities and we’re really happy to have him.
‘What he needs now is chances to put all the desire and quality that he has on the pitch. In order to do that we have to give him minutes.’
The Gunners returned from a Dubai warm weather training camp on Tuesday, when Jurrien Timber publicly trained for the first time since sustaining a serious knee injury against Nottingham Forest in August.
With Oleksandr Zinchenko nursing a calf problem, a full back has been mentioned as a target area for the Gunners in this transfer window.
But Arteta hinted such a move is unlikely because he expects Timber to return later this season. Takehiro Tomiyasu, who is with Japan at the Asian Cup, is also set to be available in the coming weeks.
‘When we planned this season, obviously we had those two in mind being fit, available and with the impact that we’re expecting them to have,’ said Arteta.
‘Those two are going to be massive when they come back.
‘They give us so much strength and flexibility in the defensive line and we are hopeful that we’re going to have them both for the last part of the season.’