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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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.

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3. Takehiro Tomiyasu

Another of the new signings and another player yet to get off the mark for his new club is Takehiro Tomiyasu, who has gradually found himself playing further forward in this system as the season has progressed.

Brought in to effectively play the role of a third central defender in build-up, lately there has been more adventure from him down the right hand side where he’s been able to link up with Saka and even make the occasional underlapping charge towards goal.

In terms of goal threat he isn’t someone to shoot often, and a volley at home to Norwich on his Arsenal debut is arguably the closest he’s come yet.

When you’ve got someone with his outstanding aerial ability – no player in the Premier League wins more headers per 90 minutes than him – it feels like a skill that can be utilised in attacking areas. There is, of course, a large difference between defending a raking diagonal and directed a header into the ground and at goal with multiple bodies around you.

Who says it will come with his head, though? We’re talking about an unbelievably two-footed full-back here who has scored with his left peg in the past, and that element of surprise can catch opposition defenders off guard.

The time that Tomiyasu does score is going to be extra special. He’s such a likeable guy.

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4. Eddie Nketiah

It’s not a great look when one of your two strikers is listed as an unlikely scorer. And no, it’s not just because he’s second in line, either.

Based off of his cameo at Wolves, unless the ball is served up to him in that six-yard area there isn’t going to be much contribution. Brought on with Arsenal down to ten, all he had to do was run. He jogged.

When push comes to shove and Arsenal aren’t holding onto a lead and instead chasing a goal, the chance will fall to Nketiah at some stage. He may not be everyone’s cup of tea but his movement in the box is sharp just as those around him are penetrative, so whether he’s introduced for a collapsing Lacazette after 65 minutes or to play alongside him in the 85th, he needs to find his composure in those moments.

Everyone chipping in, much like Gabriel at Wolves, will be imperative for Arsenal. Just like the Fulham match last season where Nketiah poked home an equaliser in the 97th minute, the same will be asked of him again on more than occasion across the coming 16 games.

A goal or two wouldn’t do him any harm of attracting potential suitors, either.