MX23RW : Saturday, September 21 00:11:55| >> :120:4741:4741:

Mikel Arteta: 'Manchester City have the strongest squad'

Mikel Arteta feels that Manchester City's prolific strike force gives them an advantage over Arsenal, whose "lack of finishing" could cost them in the title race.

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta believes that Manchester City's strike force makes them the strongest squad in the Premier League.

City are the division's highest scorers this season, having found the net 57 times compared to the Gunners' 39, with Blues frontmen Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Alvaro Negredo contributing 25 of them.

Arsenal's recognised centre-forwards Olivier Giroud and Nicklas Bendtner have just 10 top-flight goals between them, only one of which has come against sides deemed to be a top-four rival.

"There have been moments where we lacked finishing and sometimes you pay the price for that," he told Spanish radio station Cope.

"But we do not have the strikers Manchester City do to have more options. "City are the strongest squad in terms of quality. They have three world-class strikers that win the big games."

Injuries to both Giroud and Bentdner may force Gunners boss Arsene Wenger to buy in January, with Lukas Podolski expected to play through the middle in Saturday's FA Cup tie with Tottenham Hotspur.

ID:128231: cacheID:128231:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2619:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Blackburn's Paul Robinson in action against Cardiff during their Championship match on December 7, 2012
Read Next:
Team News: Former England goalkeeper returns to face City
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City4400113812
2Arsenal431061510
3Newcastle UnitedNewcastle431063310
4Liverpool43017169
5Aston Villa43017619
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton42206248
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest42204228
8Chelsea42118537
9Brentford42026606
10Manchester UnitedMan Utd42025506
11Bournemouth41215505
12Fulham41214405
13Tottenham HotspurSpurs41126424
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham411256-14
15Leicester CityLeicester402257-22
16Crystal Palace402247-32
17Ipswich TownIpswich402227-52
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves4013411-71
19Southampton400418-70
20Everton4004413-90


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!