Mikel Arteta thinks Arsenal can thrive as the chasers in the Premier League title race having spent previous years looking over their shoulders. Arsenal host West Ham on Saturday knowing they can breathe new life into the title race by cutting the gap to Liverpool to just five points ahead of their meeting with Manchester City on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta says Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are “evolving really well” from their injuries - but he is unsure if they will be fit for Arsenal ’s Champions League last-16 tie with PSV Eindhoven. Saka tore his hamstring in December and underwent surgery, while Martinelli also suffered a hamstring injury earlier this month.

Advertisement At a time when manager Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff are searching for new solutions to find goals, could a counter-attacking identity help navigate these final three striker-less months?