Arsenal have spread the goals between their side this season but have fallen short of matching the blistering totals and standards set by Erling Haaland. Although up until this point of the season it hasn't been an issue, the Manchester City striker's relentless ability to find a goal has aided his side.
It has seen a gap at the top open up to two points ahead of the Gunners' clash with Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday. Mikel Arteta's men can go back to the top of the league, albeit briefly, with a win. Pep Guardiola's side will move ahead once more should they beat West Ham on Wednesday.
Despite having an eight-point buffer at the top, Arsenal have tripped up on the final straight. Their run of four games without a win has come at a crucial time and City have shown no signs of slowing up. Led by the inevitable Haaland, Arsenal's fate is now out of their hands.
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The recent slip-ups have resulted in questions being directed at the otherwise irresistible frontline on show in north London. Despite having three players score 12 or more goals, Granit Xhaka is ahead of Eddie Nketiah in the scoring charts.
When William Saliba was fit and Arsenal were defensively solid, this didn't become an issue but in recent weeks they have begun to ship goals, letting in 15 whilst their French star has been injured. It accounts for over 20% of the goals they have conceded all season.
City, on the other hand, have Haaland hoover up all their goals and have scored six more than Arsenal despite playing a game less. His tally of 34 goals is nine ahead of the next best and 19 more than Arsenal's top scorer Gabriel Martinelli.
Jesus, who has nine to his name even with missing three months due to injury, is a different type of player and tends to drop deep and aid his team in a different way. Compare that to the ruthless box predator for City and the styles are contrasting.
Such is the skill of Haaland, Bernardo Silva has compared his exploits to that of Premier League and all-time great Cristiano Ronaldo. "He has definitely got the same mentality as Cristiano, always wanting to be in the box, always wanting to score," he said.
Silva is lucky enough to have played with both Ronaldo and Haaland in his career. The simple nature of both strikers in a one-track sense of playing is perhaps something that Arsenal are missing. Whereas Jesus is a wonderful creator and opens up the pitch for his teammates, Haaland's efficiency leads to more tangible output.
"He doesn't care if he touches the ball one or two times, when he touches he scores. He's just a proper striker," Silva explains. Heading into the summer it is an area that Arteta will have to explore for new options. Nketiah, for all his qualities, has yet to score whilst Jesus has been fit.
On the other hand, Folarin Balogun has been in red hot form in Ligue 1 but has an uncertain future. Strikers with the goalscoring ability of either Hale End graduate are rare and expensive commodities, Haaland has proven that. But when the margins are as small as they are with City, what choice do Arsenal have?
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