Arsenal Football Club is one of the most decorated teams in English football history, winning 13 First Division/Premier League titles and a record 14 FA Cups. However, the Gunners have had a long drought of Premier League victories, with their most recent triumph coming in 2004.
As the 2022/23 season nears its conclusion, Arsenal finds themselves at the top of the table and in prime position to win their first Premier League title in 19 years. Much of their success this season has been built on their young and talented squad, led by manager Mikel Arteta’s astute leadership and tactical acumen.
While Arsenal has talent all over the pitch, many believe their Premier League title hopes are heavily reliant on their forwards’ continued top form. Arteta has a variety of options at his disposal, giving him plenty of firepower up front. Getting the most out of these attackers could be critical in ending Arsenal’s long wait for the elusive league title.
The Rise of Eddie Nketiah
Eddie Nketiah, a 23-year-old striker, has emerged as one of Arsenal’s biggest surprises this season. Having previously struggled for regular opportunities, Nketiah has cemented himself as a key player under Arteta this season. In 16 Premier League appearances, the English youngster has nine goals, keeping club captain Martin Odegaard and others out of the starting lineup.
Nketiah’s clever runs and ability to stretch teams make him a real threat behind opposing defences. Throughout the season, his intelligent movement and instincts in the penalty area have allowed him to score important goals. With leading scorer Gabriel Martinelli away on international duty with Brazil in January, Nketiah helped the team through a critical period with victories over Manchester United and Tottenham.
Nketiah’s finishing and link-up play will be critical in the final stretch now that he is back in the starting lineup. If Arsenal are to continue scoring goals and winning close games, their number 14 must maintain his purple patch in front of goal.
Jesus’ Eventual Return from Injury
The sparkling form of summer signing Gabriel Jesus was a major factor in Arsenal’s early success in 2022/23. The Brazilian made an immediate impact after joining from Manchester City for £45 million, scoring 12 goals in all competitions before the World Cup break. His movement, dribbling, finishing ability, and selfless team play brought a whole new dimension to Arsenal’s attack.
Jesus was instrumental in almost every Arsenal goal, bringing his teammates into play and directly contributing with goals and assists. With the North London club struggling in the second half of previous Premier League campaigns, his arrival appeared to provide invaluable game-changing attacking quality to avoid a similar slump this time around.
However, Arsenal’s momentum was halted when Jesus suffered a knee injury at the World Cup, necessitating corrective surgery. His rehabilitation and recovery program with Arsenal medical staff and fitness coaches is said to be going well, but no return date has been set. According to reports, he may be in contention again in late February or early March.
Arsenal’s plans have suffered significantly as a result of Jesus’ prolonged absence. Having their leading scorer and talisman back fit and firing at the business end would give the entire team a huge boost of confidence. Jesus possesses the individual quality and selfless work ethic required to propel the Gunners to victory, so his return could be the deciding factor in whether Arsenal ends 19 years of title drought.
Saka and Martinelli Are Critical for Creativity
While central striker Jesus is sidelined, two of Arsenal’s gifted young wide forwards have taken on much of the creative burden. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have taken on more responsibility, with the English and Brazilian internationals scoring 29 Premier League goals between them this season.
Saka, 21, has continued to impress this season, as evidenced by his selection as England Men’s Player of the Year in 2022. Saka, who plays primarily on the right flank, has demonstrated a refined combination of pace, close control, vision, and flair. He has served as Arsenal’s primary creative outlet, providing a remarkable ten assists while also scoring seven goals himself.
Martinelli’s rise on the opposite left wing has been steady since his breakout season last year. Despite being only 21 years old, the Brazilian has improved his end product while maintaining his electrifying runs and dribbling ability. With five goals and two assists, he has evolved into a complete forward, playing an important role in the Gunners’ high press.
Saka and Martinelli provide the ideal combination of wing play to penetrate opposing backlines from wide positions. Arsenal’s direct ball movement, quality delivery from wide areas, and ability to switch flanks make them extremely difficult to contain. Finding ways to place this talented young pair in dangerous advanced positions will be critical. Feeding off them could be the key to Nketiah and Jesus regaining their prolific form from earlier this season when they return.
Strength in Depth
While Jesus’ injury came at a bad time, Arsenal is better prepared to deal with his absence than in previous seasons when they were overly reliant on one main striker. Arteta now has depth in the forward areas, with several understudies capable of joining the team. None have been able to completely fill the void left by Jesus, but all have contributed in their cameos off the bench.
This was highlighted during the hectic holiday season, when Eddie Nketiah initially led the line before needing a rest himself. Leandro Trossard, a January signing, made an immediate impact by scoring on his home debut against Manchester United, before German international Gabriel Martinelli scored the winning goal away at Tottenham. Granit Xhaka was even used as an emergency false nine to bolster Arsenal’s attacking capabilities.
Arsenal will rely on Trossard, Nketiah, and Martinelli to step up in Jesus’ absence. Each provides unique qualities that Arteta can utilize depending on the situation and opposition. Having this much depth across the front line could help Arsenal maintain Jesus’ early-season form levels. With so many games coming up, having such options will help Arsenal’s forwards stay fresh and firing as the season comes to a close.
Title Destiny in Their Own Hands
Arsenal’s hopes of winning the Premier League after a 19-year absence are largely dependent on the goal output and consistency of their forward options. After such a strong start to the season, they are confident that they can maintain their winning formula for the remainder of 2022/23. However, Manchester City’s task has been made even more difficult by the loss of star striker Gabriel Jesus just as the club was hitting peak form.
Much now depends on Eddie Nketiah, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Martinelli being able to shoulder more of the goal scoring burden. When Jesus returns to full fitness, reintegrating him into the team while maintaining momentum may prove difficult at this stage of the campaign. However, Arsenal’s squad depth appears to be well-equipped, unlike previous seasons when they faltered after strong starts.
By continuing to create chances and defend resolutely, Arsenal has demonstrated that they can achieve results without relying heavily on just one or two players. However, there is no doubt that Jesus’ return would provide them with a huge boost to propel them over the finish line after being away from the top for so long. Arteta’s impressive work in transforming the club’s culture and playing style has brought the Premier League trophy closer than ever. Now it’s up to Arsenal’s forwards to propel them back to the top of English football.
Conclusion
After such a long Premier League title drought, Arsenal appears to be on the verge of conquering English football once more as the season nears its end in 2022/23. The ability of Mikel Arteta to continue getting the most out of his talented forward options will be critical to achieving this historic feat. This season, Arsenal’s attacking potential has been unlocked by finding the right blend across their front line. However, with injuries disrupting their rhythm, Arsenal’s forwards must maintain their prolific form if they are to propel the club to Premier League glory.
