Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has hit out at reporters after being quizzed about his squad’s lack of strikers.
The Gunners, currently in fifth place in the Premier League, are on a three-game losing streak and are clinging on in the race to finish inside the top four ahead of north rivals Tottenham.
Since letting leave to join in January, have struggled to score at the same rate as their rivals and have hit the back of the net just twice in their last five league matches.
In an interview with Sky Sports ahead of Wednesday’s clash against Chelsea, Arteta was irked when asked about his team’s recent ineffectiveness up front with a lack of options not helping matters.
He said: ‘This is what we have, this is our reality. I wish I had 40 goals in the team. I know I have three players in the squad in the next seven games are going to score 21 goals, I go to sleep very nice and think tomorrow is going to be great.’
In the summer, the vacuum left in Arsenal’s striking department is set to get even bigger with both Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette said to be leaving the club as their contracts run out.
Since the start of the year, Lacazette has been filling the place left by Aubameyang’s departure and was initially performing well up front.
However, a downturn in performances from the Frenchman has led many to believe he already has one foot out of the Emirates with talks between him and the club scheduled for the summer.
Arteta acknowledged the uncertainty around Lacazette’s future but believes the 30-year-old, who has been heavily linked with a return to Lyon, is devoted to giving his all to Arsenal until the end of the season.
He added: ‘It’s difficult sometimes because he’s having talks as he said and your future is there to be decided but at the same time you come every day here, the task we have ahead, he’s the captain and he is committed, fully committed.’
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