Mikel Arteta: 'Manchester City have the strongest squad'

By Joe Fish, Reporter | 04 January 2014

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.