Arsenal: 4 unlikely sources of goals this season

WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 10: Ben White of Arsenal celebrates following their side's victory in the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal at Molineux on February 10, 2022 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 10: Ben White of Arsenal celebrates following their side's victory in the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal at Molineux on February 10, 2022 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Sambi
Arsenal’s Belgian midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga reacts to conceding the first goal during the English FA Cup third round football match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images) /

2. Sambi Lokonga

The main drawback for Sambi Lokonga getting himself on the scoresheet for Arsenal is the fact he is not a regular starter. Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey are back in the fold and if all goes well there will be little chance of the Belgian getting much of a look in.

He isn’t afraid to have a pop from distance, mind you.

In the period earlier in the season where he enjoyed an extended run in the side, Sambi showed his confidence with a few long range efforts at goal. Unfortunately, he seemed to be taking a leaf out of Partey’s book for most of them.

Additionally, if he’s playing with Xhaka then he is the deeper of the two, tasked with progressing the ball from in front of the central defenders with the Swiss more advanced on the angle. It’s not exactly shooting range, especially given his track record.

However, in his final season at Anderlecht before joining Arsenal he chipped in with three goals, his only three senior strikes to date. There is definite room for improvement in that regard and in the case of a many players the goalscoring side of their games tends not to develop until later.

This season might be too soon for that elusive goal though, hence the unlikeliness.

Continued on next page…