Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta
Image credit: Getty Images
Gary Lineker has expressed concerns about Arsenal in the Premier League title race as they face stiff competition from Liverpool and Chelsea. The Gunners’ aspirations suffered a setback on Sunday when they were held to a 1-1 draw by London rivals Fulham at Craven Cottage.
The result left Arsenal third in the table, two points behind Chelsea and six adrift of league leaders Liverpool, who also hold a game in hand. After coming close to winning the league in the past two seasons, Arsenal are desperate to secure their first title since 2004.
Lineker, however, believes Arsenal’s growing reliance on set-piece goals could hinder their chances. Speaking onThe Rest is Football podcast, the former England striker said, “They really struggled to create much. Once again, they looked really dangerous from set-pieces because their delivery is so good and accurate. Eventually, an Arsenal player is going to win a header.
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“My concern, a little bit, about Arsenal is they’re not quite scoring goals without those set pieces. They didn’t create too many opportunities against Fulham.”
Gary Lineker - Arsenal
Gary Lineker (Image credit: Getty Images)
Arsenal have been prolific from set-pieces, scoring 23 goals from corners since the start of last season—the most of any team across Europe’s top five leagues. Captain Martin Ødegaard echoed the sentiment about their set-piece efficiency but admitted frustration over dropping points against Fulham.
“We’re so good at it, and everyone believes that when we have a set-piece, we’re going to score,” Ødegaard said. “And [against Fulham], we did, and we could have scored a few more to be honest.
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“The mood now is disappointed because we didn’t win, but we have to move on to the next game. There’s no time to dwell; we need to ensure we win the next one.”
Arsenal face a crucial week ahead, beginning with a Champions League clash against Monaco on Wednesday before returning to Premier League action next weekend against an in-form Everton side, fresh from a 4-0 demolition of Wolves.
While Arsenal stumbled, Chelsea kept up their momentum with a dramatic 4-3 victory over Tottenham, maintaining their pressure on Liverpool. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s Merseyside derby against Everton at Goodison Park was postponed due to safety concerns caused by Storm Darragh.
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