Arsenal finally have depth in attack as Premier League race heats up

Gabriel Jesus returned to the scoresheet for the first time since October, netting a brace alongside goals from Ben White and Granit Xhaka. 

The most surprising part about Mikel Arteta’s line-up before the game was the omission of Bukayo Saka from the starting XI for the first time since December 2021. 

Partly this was due to illness, but partly because for the first time in a long while, Arsenal finally have depth in attack.

Leandro Trossard filled in on the right for Saka and, despite a quiet opening, popped up with yet another assist for Jesus’ second goal after growing into the game, taking his total to one goal and seven assists in the league since joining in January. 

This came after Arsenal maintained their gap at the top of the league for three months during the absence of Jesus with Eddie Nketiah, now injured, filling in. It goes to show the attacking depth Arteta now has at his disposal, depth that will be so crucial during the remaining nine games. 

Arsenal’s victory followed City’s Etihad Stadium demolition of Liverpool in the early fixture, putting the pressure on the Gunners due to the timing, points and performance. The Gunners responded on Saturday but face the Reds themselves, at Anfield, in their next game.

Arteta has to expect a better performance from Liverpool who will be buoyed by the home crowd on Sunday afternoon, arguably the biggest test of Arsenal’s nerve so far this season. 

City laid down the gauntlet last weekend, the Gunners haven’t won at Anfield in 11 years, Liverpool will surely bounce back, but can Arsenal pull another rabbit out of the hat in a season of so many broken stigmas, so many defiant results, so many late winners?

If fans don’t already believe lifting the Premier League trophy is possible, leaving Anfield with three points on Sunday would turn that around – nine cup finals to go…