Liverpool and Man Utd at disadvantage in top four race as Arsenal lead

Arteta on Arsenal extending their lead at the top of the table

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Arsenal just missed out on Champions League football last season, though their goalscoring midfield is likely to be the difference this time around. Mikel Arteta’s side are benefitting from goals coming away from their attack, whereas Liverpool and Manchester United can improve in that department.

The Gunners are currently top of the table and reaping the benefits of their summer spending spree, with the addition of Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City making an unbelievable difference in the final third. The Brazilian has scored five goals and assisted three in eight Premier League appearances, though that does not truly do justice to his influence.

The 25-year-old has brought the best out in his teammates, with Martin Odegaard, in particular, benefitting due to the space being created in the final. Though the Norwegian is not the only goalscorer in midfield, according to Sam Dean, Arsenal have had six goals come from midfield this season, more than any other ‘Big Six’ side.

City warms the second spot with five midfield goals, with Tottenham back in third with three goals. Graham Potter will be hoping to spark more goals coming from his midfield over the coming weeks, with Chelsea midfielders only scoring twice so far this season.

Rivals Liverpool and United are then bottom of the table with each side only having a solitary goal scored this season by a midfielder. Jurgen Klopp’s side have often failed to find goalscorers aside from their frontline, with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, previously, shouldering the responsibility of putting the ball in the back of the net.

Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara are not natural goalscorers, which is becoming more and more apparent in Liverpool’s current poor form. Contrastly, despite only one of their midfielders scoring so far this season, United won’t be too disappointed with their goalscorers.

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Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony are all beginning to form an understanding in the final third – regardless of the recently thumping by City last weekend – and the goals are coming. Of course, Erik ten Hag will be well aware that his side won’t be able to mount a charge for the top four without a variation of goalscorers, though it feels only a matter of time before they find their mojo in front of goal too.

Bruno Fernandes has only scored once so far this season, with Christian Eriksen yet to open his account at Old Trafford. If Ten Hag can enable either of those pair to receive the ball in more dangerous areas then they will certainly see their goal tallies improve, just as Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka’s have at Arsenal.

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