Mikel Arteta Says Arsenal's Lack of Goals Has Become ''psychological''

17

Views

Written by: Maxon Airo | Posted just now

Mikel Arteta thinks Arsenal's problems in front of goal have become "psychological" after they drew another blank against Liverpool.

Arsenal were punished for a host of missed chances as Jakub Kiwior's own goal and Luis Diaz's late strike sent Liverpool into the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 2-0 win.

The Gunners have one win in their last seven matches in all competitions as the pressure builds on Arteta to find a solution to his side's struggles in front of goal.

In those last seven games, Arsenal have scored five goals with a worrying trend of underperforming their expected goals numbers creeping into their play. Across their last three games, Arsenal have had 61 shots to a backdrop of 6.47 worth of expected goals but have found the net just once.

When asked if there is a risk that missed chances are becoming a psychological issue, Arteta replied:

"Probably it has. Especially after today, more than it was against Fulham or West Ham before that. That's why I think we need to reset. This break is good. It comes in a good time. We're going to as well feel how we feel and how I feel about them in difficult moments. Hopefully I can see that from other people too. When things are going well they jump on the train. Now things are difficult, let's see where they stand."

He added:

"It was a really disappointing result with a big performance against probably the team that is the most in-form in Europe. We were better than them, we generated much more than them, we created so many chances but we didn't capitalise.

"Against these teams, you have to capitalise if you want to win. If you don't score in that box, and then you concede an own goal and the second one like we did, it is difficult to win.

"It's football, and you have to realise the situation and know we're going to have to generate more and shoot better and arrive in better positions, but today we had plenty. Today we were better than them, and we should have won the game, there's no question about that."

There have been calls for Arsenal to dip into the transfer market to arrest their issues in front of goal by signing a striker in January. However, a quiet window is expected at the club with Arteta pouring cold water on their chances of dipping into the market.