24 February 2024 , 22:58
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Ahead of Arsenal's meeting with Newcastle, Gunners sporting director Edu was faced with questions about the search for a new striker live on television.
TNT pundits Rio Ferdinand and Arsenal icon Martin Keown pressed the current Gunners chief for comment on if the north Londoners really do need a lethal goalscorer to get them over the line in their hunt for a first league title since Edu played for the club himself.
His response was eye-opening. The Brazilian oozed calmness as he replied: "I understand what the fans are asking for, but we have our ideas, our targets.
"We plan a lot ahead of what we’re going to face. I would be worried if we didn’t score a lot of goals if we’re not creating chances, which is the opposite, I think we’re creating a lot, scoring a lot of goals."
He wasn't wrong, the Gunners had scored 11 in their last two league games before meeting the Magpies, but having seemed so confident in his assessment, Edu would have been hoping Arsenal produce another free-flowing attacking display on the night.
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He needn't fret, with Mikel Arteta's men putting another four past Newcastle to make it 15 goals scored from their last three league games. In terms of league games this year, Arsenal have managed 25 goals in six outings.
Any neutral fans that may have heard Gunners fans bemoaning their lack of attacking threat recently must have been confused if they'd been watching the same side. A Sven Botman own goal, before strikes from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka were finished off with a deflected Jakub Kiwior header ended the game as a contest.
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Kai Havertz scored the second of Arsenal's four against NewcastleThere's something ironic about the fact that even the late consolation Newcastle did manage was scored by someone with Arsenal in their blood after Joe Willock's header robbed David Raya of a clean sheet. So much has been said about the Gunners' defensive prowess and rightly so, but it is time to shine a light on the Gunners' attack for the right reasons.
There has been some standout examples of individual brilliance, particularly from Saka, who has hit a rich vein of form since the squad returned from their warm-weather training camp in Dubai last month. The 22-year-old has seven goals in his last five league appearances, the first English Arsenal player to produce such a feat since Ian Wright in September of 1994.
Edu made clear he was happy with the amount Arsenal are creating and scoring. Arteta echoed a similar sentiment post-match, praising the individual quality he has at his disposal.
Unlike some of his post-match pressers at the tail-end of last year, there were no questions about plans for a new striker. None about the January transfer window passing the club by with no new additions. Not even any questions about £45million forward Gabriel Jesus watching the entire win from the bench.
Arsenal are now the league's second-highest scorers, one goal behind league leaders Liverpool. They still sit third, two points adrift of the Reds, but if the Gunners aren't lifting the title come the end of May, a lack of goals certainly can't be blamed.
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