Mikel Arteta explains what Arsenal currently lack compared to Liverpool | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta has admitted Arsenal are lacking the "spark" needed to win games and compete for the Premier League title.

Injuries to Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka have left Arsenal short of options in attack. Defensive midfielder Mikel Merino has led the line in the past two games, but the Gunners failed to score in either game and managed just three shots on target across 180 minutes of action.

With a 1-0 defeat to West Ham United and 0-0 draw with Nottingham Forest leaving them 13 points behind Liverpool in the Premier League title race, Arteta admitted Arsenal are not creating enough chances to compete for silverware.

"It doesn't feel good," he reflected after the latest setback. "We're here to win. But we showed unquestionable character, how much we wanted it and tried.

"We dominated the game. We tried in many different ways. We insisted but lacked that spark, that final pass to unlock a well organised team. We have to generate more shots on target."

Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo summed up Arsenal's attacking woes after the game, admitting he did not feel the need to adopt a defensive formation simply because the Gunners "don't have a striker".

Havertz and Jesus will not return until the 2025/26 season, while Arteta recently confirmed Saka and Martinelli will not be ready until after the March international break.