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'If we improve, our strikers will too'

Arsène Wenger is sure his strikers will recapture their best form if Arsenal continue to perform as they did in Barcelona on Wednesday.

Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud, Alexis and Danny Welbeck have scored 13 times between them in a combined 53 appearances so far in 2016.

While some have criticised the Gunners’ lack of goals, Wenger is confident the situation will improve before the end of the season.

"If we continue to play like we did in Barcelona, our strikers will score. We create good opportunities"

“I always believe that let's improve the quality of our game and then the strikers will benefit from that,” the manager said. “It's always delicate to blame one or two individuals when you're not scoring enough.

“If we continue to play like we did in Barcelona, our strikers will score. We create good opportunities. We are one of the best at creating opportunities in the Premier League, if not the best.

“Maybe we have to increase the quality of those opportunities, but it's maybe linked to the confidence. Maybe the strikers are a bit desperate to score at the moment, but it will come back.”

Wenger handed Alex Iwobi a first Champions League start at the Nou Camp and was pleased with the teenager’s performance.

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“I rate him,” he added. “To throw him into a game like on Wednesday is proof of the belief I have in his qualities.

“He's a creative player, an intelligent player. He has a strong team attitude and good humility. At 19, that's an important quality. I think he can go very far.

“I’m a bit cautious because I don't want to make stars of players who have played two games, but he's a big talent.”

 

Walcott celebrates goal v Hull City

 

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