Arsenal: 4 unlikely sources of goals this season

The narrow 1-0 win that Arsenal secured over Wolves has not only kept them in the Premier League top four hunt, but also swung the pendulum in their favour.

With fellow Champions League chasing rivals Tottenham losing at home to Southampton and Manchester United only able to muster a draw at Burnley, Arsenal then taking three points off Wolves capped off an ideal gameweek.

Chelsea are involved in the Club World Cup meaning that the weekend is, annoyingly, freed up for Arsenal yet again, by which time their fellow top four competitors have played once more apiece, meaning the wait goes on.

But there is still plenty of enjoyment to draw from the victory, three points that was met with jubilant celebrations at full-time that were bizarrely critiqued by fellow players and by opposition fans. Do Arsenal care? Not one jot.

Arsenal: 4 unlikely sources of goals this Premier League season as Arteta’s side keep top four ambitions very much alive

Gabriel’s first half goal was the difference, taking his tally for the season up to three in 19 matches, a contribution that will go a long to way helping Arsenal keep up their top four ambitions this season.

Goals from various sources, as well as various means, is imperative to Arsenal if they are to sneak their way into elite European competition with a strike force severely lacking in goals. Alexandre Lacazette’s goal-shy nature means others will have to chip in, and Gabriel duly obliged.

What about elsewhere?

Emile Smith Rowe is the top scorer this season and both Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka will contribute, but what other unlikely sources can Arsenal fans hope to see goals from this season?

1. Benjamin White

As Martin Odegaard fed Bukayo Saka in the Wolves box and his cutback was met by Benjamin White, it looked like the £50m summer signing might mark the occasion with his first goal for the club.

His side-footed effort appeared set to nestle into the far top corner only for the midriff of Max Kilman to prevent White from giving Arsenal the lead.

Previously this season he showed some neat striker’s instinct as Arsenal snatched a late 2-2 draw at home to Crystal Palace. Reading the flight of the ball he slipped into space before striking a goalbound volley, one that deflected off Gabriel Martinelli on the ground and fell to Lacazette who flashed home. Other than that,there was a header early on at Old Trafford, but not much else that came close to nestling in the back of the net.

But as someone who loves to carry the ball forward and is involved in every attacking set piece Arsenal have, it is surely a matter of time before the Love Island Maldini (that really is his nickname) will be passionately celebrating his own goal as opposed to one of his teammate’s.

With Nicolas Jover’s threatening set piece routines there is more than a chance, although nobody should be holding their breath for someone with a grand total of three goals in 188 career matches. He is, after all, a centre-back.

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