The stats that show why Arsenal are struggling in Premier League title race

Arsenal's aspirations for Premier League glory this season have hit roadblocks, primarily attributed to their frontline's inefficiency in converting opportunities, sidelining them in the title race and trailing behind competitors.

Mikel Arteta's side, currently positioned fourth in the league standings, find themselves five points adrift of the league leaders, Liverpool. Recent defeats against Fulham and West Ham have accentuated vulnerabilities on both offensive and defensive fronts. Defensive injuries have compounded their challenges, while offensive struggles in converting chances have been evident.

The spotlight falls heavily on Arsenal's frontline trio comprising Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel Martinelli, who have collectively managed a mere 11 goals in the Premier League this season. This tally significantly lags behind their counterparts across the league.

The stats which show why Arsenal are struggling in Premier League title race

A statistical breakdown reveals the stark contrast between Arsenal's 37 goals and Liverpool's 43, with key contributors like Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, and Diogo Jota effectively doubling Arsenal's frontline output. Aston Villa mirrors Liverpool's tally, with Ollie Watkins, Moussa Diaby, and Leon Bailey contributing significantly to their goal tally.

Leading the charts, Manchester City dominate the scoring with 45 goals, boasting prolific contributions from Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez, and Phil Foden. Tottenham closely follow with 42 goals, largely bolstered by the combined efforts of Son Heung-min, Dejan Kulusevski, and Richarlison.

Sky Sports pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville have voiced concerns regarding Arsenal's trio upfront. Carragher stressed the necessity for increased open-play goal-scoring, stating: "They need to be scoring more from open play." Arsenal have scored a meagre 20 open-play goals this term, which ranks 13th in the division.

Neville highlighted the lack of synergy between Arsenal's forwards, emphasising the absent link-up play between Martinelli, Jesus, and Saka.

"They don't combine a lot together. That's a real problem, the best front threes involve their centre-forwards and the wide players, they play and bounce it off them," the former Man Utd defender said.

While Arsenal has adopted a distinct style this season, resembling Manchester City's emphasis on control and reduced transition, the persistent struggle to convert chances into goals remains a significant impediment to their title ambitions.