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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.

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Blackburn's Paul Robinson in action against Cardiff during their Championship match on December 7, 2012
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool17133140172342
2Arsenal18106235161936
3Chelsea18105338211735
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1810442419534
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle188553021929
6Bournemouth188552721629
7Manchester CityMan City188463026428
8Fulham187742623328
9Aston Villa188462629-328
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton186842726126
11Brentford187383232024
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs1872939261323
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham186572330-723
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd186482124-322
15Everton173861522-717
16Crystal Palace183871826-817
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1843112940-1115
18Leicester CityLeicester1835102240-1814
19Ipswich TownIpswich1826101633-1712
20Southampton1813141137-266


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