Arnett Gardens Football Club's head coach, Xavier Gilbert, said the start of his team's season has been characterised by one crucial element, missing goalscoring chances.

On Sunday, in their Jamaica Premier League (JPL) game against newcomers Racing United FC, the story was much the same, with the home team creating numerous chances but only having one goal to show for their efforts in the 1-1 draw.

Although Warner Brown started the season well, and Kimani Arbouine has been finding the net of late, Gilbert pointed out that captain Fabian Reid is a big miss.

"We have been playing without Fabian for a couple games now, and any local team would like Fabian Reid in their team," Gilbert observed.

"We really do miss him. He is a potent striker, very experienced in the league, knows how to score goals in the league," he said.

"But others are getting their opportunities at this point in time. They just have to make the best use of it. We miss him, but we are creating opportunities and we just have to find ways to score goals," the Arnett coach insisted.

The coach is pleased to see winger Arbouine, who netted the equaliser against Racing United, coming into his own lately, but thinks the player can contribute more.

"He is doing well at the moment and he has to continue to work. He is still missing some opportunities, but we are grateful for what he has given us so far."

Brown, who struggled in front of goal last term, started the season with a bang, netting twice in the opening game against Dunbeholden and followed that with another goal in a Concacaf Caribbean Cup game against Trinidad and Tobago's Police FC, which Arnett lost 2-1.

Gilbert maintains that the club still has a lot of faith in the striker, and they are working to help him achieve greater consistency this season.

"We really hope so," Gilbert said of his consistency in scoring. "We have been working from last year and we believe in him. He is working harder and (assistant coach) Fabian Taylor has been doing some individual work with him. He will get opportunities to score and once he can bang in the goals, that'll be good," he said.

The team's 3-0 win over Dunbeholden was the only game in six matches that Arnett scored more than one goal, but Gilbert said it is still early days and they are taking every step to ensure that they get this aspect of their game right.

"Early season, and it looks promising. I would be worried if we weren't creating the opportunities. But we have to find a way to win games, that's what championship teams do. They find a way to win, and we have to learn how to do that," he said.

"We are trying rotation and different personnel. We have to assess, as coaches, if it is the information that we are giving them. Is it the personnel that we are putting out and asking to do the job? Are they the right persons?

"So we are going to ask all the questions. First thing we do is evaluate the decisions we make and the persons we select and try to come up with the best combinations to give us positive results," Gilbert continued. "But we are all working to get Arnett Gardens on top. Hopefully, we can continue to get good performances."

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com