Arsenal's forwards are consistently providing less goals to the overral output of the squad and Mikel Arteta needs to find a way to change it if he hopes to lift the title
14:00, 13 Feb 2026Updated 14:04, 13 Feb 2026
Mikel Arteta has to solve Arsenal's forward line problems as latest data reveals worsening trend
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Mikel Arteta has to solve Arsenal's forward line problems as latest data reveals worsening trend(Image: Glyn KIRK / AFP via Getty Images)
Despite Arsenal sitting four points clear at the top of the table, the attacking output of the side has come in for plenty of scrutiny. The numbers support that criticism and to see how the team’s goalscoring from their forward and attacking midfield players in particular has changed across this season and the previous two is very telling.
So far, after 26 league games, Arsenal have scored 50 goals. This is one less than they had at the same stage in 2024/25 and 12 less than they had in 2023/24.
The irony, of course, is that two seasons ago they were third after 26 games, and last season second at the same stage. Fewer goals, but a higher place in the league.
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Well, as opposed to 2023/24 or 2024/25, when the Gunners had conceded 23 goals, only 18 have beaten David Raya during this campaign, which perhaps tells the key story. This side are much harder to beat, but as Manchester City set their sights on reeling the Gunners in once again, why they’re not free and clear can certainly be put down to a lack of threat from their forwards.
Of the 62 goals that Mikel Arteta’s side had scored by the 26th matchweek in 2023/24, 79% of them had been scored by either striker, wingers or attacking midfielders. More than three-quarters of the club’s output was coming from the offensive-minded players.
That has since seen a downward trend, much like the overall volume of goals too. In 2024/25, of the 51 goals scored after 26 games, 66% of them were scored by the attacking contingent.
This season, of the 50 goals, just 58% of them have been scored by the attacking contingent. What it tells us is that a higher proportion of the team’s goals are coming from the defensive and box-to-box midfielders like Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice, and the defenders, which mainly come from set-pieces.
There is context to consider, and as Arsenal have improved, opposition teams have looked to set up to stifle them. Arsenal currently operate against the deepest average defensive line of all Premier League sides, while themselves setting up with the highest on average.
But what makes it worse is the individual contributions. Of all the forward players still in the squad from last season: Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli, Ethan Nwaneri (prior to his loan move), Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus, Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka, only Trossard has a higher tally at this stage (5 > 4) than the other seven who have all seen a drop, most considerably Martinelli who had six goals after 26 league games and now has just one.
In the summer, Arsenal added more than £170million worth of attacking talent in the form of Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze. The trio have 14 league goals between them, meaning a goal is scored in the league by at least one of them every 217 minutes.
In 2023/24, Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira had nine goals in those first 26 games, spread across their game time, it saw a return of a goal every 167 minutes. There are plenty of factors and context which could provide some insight, but the bottom line is this team is not as offensively clinical as it was then.
Nor is it as creative. In 2023/24 Arsenal finished the season creating 2.29 big chances per game, which has dropped to 2.08 per game, the current fifth highest in the league, with Brentford second on 2.27 and City first with 2.62.
Arsenal are top of the table because, overall, they have been better than Manchester City. They have won more points from losing positions than City and dropped fewer points from winning positions compared to City.
They have conceded fewer goals and kept more clean sheets. With 12 games to go, City have the momentum, and Arsenal look like the nerves are setting in. Will what has been be enough?
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Only time will tell, but what is for sure is that the contributions to goalscoring from the Gunners’ forwards must improve to give them the best chance possible.
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