FA Cup: Arteta frustrated as goals dry up for Arsenal
The HinduArsenal’s sudden inability to put the ball in the opposition’s net is threatening to undermine a season that looked so full of promise and manager Mikel Arteta appears at a loss to know why the goals have dried up. Arteta’s side have now had 61 goal attempts in the last three games -- a 2-0 home defeat by West Ham United and a 2-1 loss at Fulham, both in the Premier League, and Sunday’s frustrating Cup exit against Liverpool -- and scored once. While Liverpool’s 7,000 travelling fans celebrated, Arsenal’s left the Emirates Stadium chuntering about the need for a new striker in the transfer window. Asked why his side could not score past a Liverpool defence missing their talisman Virgil van Dijk, who was ill, Arteta was clearly not amused. When my team plays with that courage and attitude against probably the best team in Europe right now what can I do but stick by them.” Arteta said that the absent Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus had required a scan after some pain in his knee but hoped it was “nothing big”.