Arsene Wenger expects Arsenal's goalscoring struggles to continue

Arsene Wenger admits Arsenal’s struggles in front of goal are showing no sign of ending despite a 1-0 win over Newcastle.

In their previous four games – defeat to Manchester United, draws against Southampton and West Ham and Saturday’s narrow triumph at the Emirates – the Gunners have sent in 89 shots on goal but find the net on only three occasions.

Only an inspired volley from Mesut Ozil midway through the first half could find its way past Rob Elliot, though the Newcastle goalkeeper saw a number of efforts fly past either post.

Wenger insisted that Arsenal’s troubles in front of goal were “cyclical” – and with Alexandre Lacazette, Alexis Sanchez and Ozil in the side he can be optimistic that the Gunners will soon be among the goals again – but conceded the struggles in recent games had contributed to some wayward finishing.

“I would say we had plenty of chances we didn’t take,” Wenger said. “You could feel that sometimes we wanted to force a little bit the decision. The fact that we didn’t score recently from the chances we had played a little bit on our mind.

“I would have loved it to have been a bit more comfortable on the scoreline but what was really important was to get the three points. We had a serious game, you could see we’d played three in six days. The third is a bit more difficult physically.

“We are an offensive team. We had plenty, plenty of chances but as long as it’s 1-0 you know there comes a moment in the game where you come under a threat. That’s how it is in the Premier League. Look around, Chelsea played at home against Southampton and they won 1-0. We are the only team that played Sunday-Wednesday-Saturday.

“It was down to the finishing [that Arsenal only scored one]. The quality of the chances was quite good.”