Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright noted the Gunners' struggles up front in their hard-fought 2-1 Premier League home win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday (December 27).
Martin Odegaard fired Mikel Arteta's side ahead inside 14 minutes before Georginio Rutter put one through his own net to give the hosts a two-goal cushion seven minutes into the second period.
Diego Gomez reduced arrears for Brighton 12 minutes later. The Gunners squandered chances to extend their advantage but held on for their third straight win to remain two points clear of Pep Guardiola's second-placed Manchester City (40), with goalkeeper David Raya coming to the fore.
"I think David Raya has probably saved our blushes with that amazing save (off Yankuba Minteh)," Wright told Premier League Productions (as per Metro).
"But it’s a problem we’ve got at the moment, for some reason, with the chances we’re making, we don’t seem to be able to take the chances to be comfortable in the game, then the anxiety kicks in, and then it feels like a basketball match kind of energy."
Arteta seemed to concur with Wright's assessment:
"Very happy with the performance, individually and collectively, so dominant. We were a big threat, so very pleased with all of that. But the margins should have been much bigger. I mean, with the amount of situations, chances, open chances that we generated through the game, it should never be 2-1."
Both the Gunners and City have won 13 of their opening 18 games as the midway point of the season approaches.
"We were dominant from the start" - Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard
Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard
Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard was pleased with his team's effort in the Premier League home win over Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend but admitted that they needed to defend better.
With a sixth straight league win at home, the Gunners are four short of their run between April and December 2022, while their three own goals benefitted from is the most in the league this season.
"It was a tough one in the end, but I think we played a good game," Odegaard told Sky Sports (as per the BBC). "We were dominant from the start. They got a bit of momentum towards the end, but we got an important three points.
"I think we played really good, controlled the game, but we could have done better and not let them score like they did. They got the momentum when they got the goal, got belief back, but we did well to defend."
Arsenal next take on Aston Villa at home on Tuesday (December 30), possibly needing a win to go into the new year as the league leaders. Arteta's side lost the reverse fixture 2-1 at Villa Park earlier this month.