Arsenal legend admits Arteta will look at Spurs’ attacking options with envy

Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith has admitted that Tottenham’s attacking quality and depth is much better than their North London rivals’.

At the start of the season, Arsenal were widely favoured to finish above Spurs in the table, with hardly any pundits giving the Lilywhites a chance of finishing in the top four (BBC Sport).

Although the stats indicated that Spurs had accumulated more points per game after Jose Mourinho arrived than Arsenal did under Arteta last season, the Gunners’ FA Cup win convinced many that Pep Guardiola’s former assistant is the man to take Arsenal forward.

However, the difference between the two teams has been clear for all to see so far this season, with Tottenham scoring for fun so far and Arsenal struggling to create chances in almost all of their games.

While Harry Kane and Son Heung-min are on fire for the Lilywhites, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has found the back of the net just once in six league games this season (transfermarkt.com).

Smith believes that Arteta will be jealous of the attacking options which Spurs and Manchester United have at their disposal.

He told The Evening Standard: “The Gunners have become very solid under Mikel Arteta, rarely giving much away. But going forward? It has suddenly got a bit awkward, the old fluidity and flair nowhere to be seen.

In radically adjusting the mindset to become more resilient, Arsenal’s attacking threat was bound to be compromised.

“Finding the right balance is the tough challenge now for a manager armed with less material than practically all of his rivals.

“Look at Tottenham and Manchester United, two teams also harbouring top-four ambitions. Both have more quality and choice in the forward positions. That has got to lend an advantage in the long run.”

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