Mikel Arteta highlights Arsenal problem v Molde but may already have fix

“In general consistency wise in the final third, we have to finish more things better and we can improve a lot,” he said, per Football London.

Arsenal had 16 shots in the game but found the target with just five. And at least two of those came after two own goals had put them in front. Without those fortunate opposition mistakes, the game could have been very different.

Molde took the lead, after all, but an own goal right before half-time levelled things. It then took another own goal just after the hour mark to put Arsenal in a position of strength. Only from there did they find their true rhythm and wrap the game up.

It’s a concern for Arteta as this team resembled the ‘future’ of Arsenal, Willian aside. Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang didn’t play, leaving the likes of Nicolas Pepe, Joe Willock, Eddie Nketiah and Bakary Saka to run things.

And they will surely run things for the first XI before too long. Aubameyang and Lacazette will both be over 30 by the time the season is done and the next generation will have to step up soon.

Arteta needs goals, though, someone who can finish the chances that these players create. They had to rely on those own goals on Thursday but we can safely say that won’t work every week.

Fortunately, there is a fix to this problem – Gabriel Martinelli. The 19-year-old is currently injured and hasn’t played for some time after knee surgery. The latest update, though, is that he’ll be back in training before the year is out.

Martinelli, surely, is the goalscorer this young team is looking for. He’s got a fine record and ticks virtually every box you want from a modern forward – as long as he recovers as the same player.

If he does, then Arteta needn’t worry. He already has a fix for his problem waiting in the wings.