Ian Wright has claimed that despite Erling Haaland's incredible goalscoring record, Arsenal have an advantage over their title rivals heading into the home straight. Manchester City could move to within one point of the Gunners if they were to win their games in hand ahead of the crunch meeting between the two sides next week.
With 32 goals in 28 league games Haaland has scored more than eight teams have this season even though he has played fewer games. Even with his extreme and record-breaking exploits, Arsenal only have four goals less than Pep Guardiola's side having one game more.
Instead, Arteta has three players - Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard - with more than 10 goals, Gabriel Jesus has nine in 17 starts with five assists. Whereas at City their goals are coming through a concentrated source. This season only Haaland has made it into double figures.
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Last campaign they ended the season with three players having 11 or more, one on nine and three with eight. Playing without an orthodox centre-forward but with a Jesus-like figure saw them net 99 times. They are on track to match that, just, whereas Arsenal have continued to spread goals out and have already got 17 more than they managed in 38 games last season.
It is for this reason that Wright wouldn't swap the current set up at the Emirates Stadium for the individual finishing demon that is Haaland. “Progress the ball from the back… Thomas Partey, [Martin] Odegaard, [Bukayo] Saka, [Leandro] Trossard, [Gabriel] Martinelli, [Gabriel] Jesus… so many different ways to hurt a team,” he told The Athletic.
“As much as I was really pleased to be somebody that was at the time the main goalscorer, and you do want somebody who’s scoring between 15 and 25 league goals a season, I believe that when you are able to spread the goals around, people can’t plan for it.
“Of course, you look at Erling Haaland. Magnificent. Amazing what he’s doing and good luck to him. But would I change what we’re doing for somebody who’s scoring goals like that? I don’t know. It may mess up the equilibrium of what’s going on. I’m not sure.”
The clash of styles will meet face-to-face once more in one of the most eagerly awaited title race battles for many a year. The Gunners travel to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, April 26 knowing that a loss will hand the initiative back to Guardiola's team. It's a ground they have failed to win at since 2015.
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