Arsenal & Mikel Arteta pay price for failing to address striker flaw

Mikel Arteta is known for his meticulous exploitation of marginal gains, but now Arsenal’s season is in danger of unravelling, as he leaves the most crucial element – goals – to chance.

Arsenal’s penalty shootout defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup third round was another painful loss, following Tuesday’s 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle United in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final. Many of Arsenal’s problems, and why they are six points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool with a game in hand, stem from Arteta and the club's transfer strategy.

Arteta’s signings have failed to address Arsenal’s most glaring weakness – a lack of attacking firepower – and have instead left the Gunners blunt. Arteta claimed “in 1,000 of these games, you lose one. Unfortunately, it was this one. You [Arsenal] should have won the game comfortably, but the reality is that we are out and that’s the only thing that matters.” To this, one might respond with various reactions, be it mockery or questioning.

A simple answer is that Arsenal have been without a recognised striker for some time, and Arteta has refused to address the issue, choosing instead to strengthen other positions, rather than their most pressing and obvious need. Now, with their FA Cup campaign over at the first hurdle, their route to Wembley in the League Cup looking challenging, and with the league title race difficult to catch up with Liverpool, the failure of Arteta and Arsenal to sign a goalscorer has been laid bare.

Analysing the data from the past two defeats, the problem is obvious. Against Newcastle, they had 23 shots, with only three on target; against Manchester United, there were 26 shots in 120 minutes, with seven on target. Of those 26 shots, 22 came from inside the penalty area, and Arsenal had 55 touches in the Manchester United box. Yet, the only goals in those two games came from a deflection off defender Gabriel. To add to the embarrassment, Manchester United played with 10 men for the final 29 minutes of normal time and 30 minutes of extra time, after defender Diogo Dalot was sent off for a second yellow card.

Arsenal’s deficiencies were evident last season, but the summer transfer window was a missed opportunity to fix them. Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig was considered a primary target, with a release clause of £55 million, while Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting Lisbon was also an alternative. However, Arteta set about strengthening Arsenal’s defence, signing Italy international Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna in a deal that could be worth up to £42 million, before adding Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino for £32.6 million, who is not a natural creator. The only attacking addition looked more like a deadline-day impulse, with Raheem Sterling, ruthlessly marginalised by Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, joining Arsenal on loan in the final hours of the summer transfer window. He has made 12 appearances, scored one goal, and failed to make any impact.

Kai Havertz has been used as a striker, but it is not his natural position. He has become a symbol of Arsenal’s failings, missing clear-cut chances in both the Newcastle and Manchester United games. The German even missed a crucial penalty in the shootout. He had five shots and 11 touches in the Manchester United box. In Tuesday’s game against Newcastle, he had a late chance to reduce the 2-0 deficit, but headed wide from a clear chance in front of an open goal.

Now, with Arteta leaving their fate to chance, injuries are piling up, with Bukayo Saka and his 17-year-old replacement Ethan Nwaneri both long-term absentees. To make matters worse, Gabriel Jesus, while not prolific, is at least more suited to playing through the middle, and he was stretchered off in the first half against Manchester United. Arteta admitted afterwards: “It is a big worry. He was in a lot of pain and had to be stretchered off. It’s worrying what he was feeling when he had to leave the pitch.”

Arsenal’s attack has become more reliant on set-pieces this season, with coach Nicolas Jover even having his own mural outside the Emirates Stadium. Twenty of Arsenal’s 62 goals in all competitions (32%) have come from set-pieces, including penalties. The mural is a reward for Jover. “We haven’t put the ball in the net,” said Arteta after the FA Cup exit. He added: “The ball has to go in the net, and then you beat the opponent. That’s the reality.”

Former Arsenal and England striker Theo Walcott told BBC Sport: “It’s like what everyone else has been saying. Arsenal need a striker now, or it would be a completely different situation. Arsenal have gone from a free-flowing attacking line that had people on the edge of their seats, to being a little bit dull at the Emirates. You need players to do something different, but they haven’t got that at the moment.” Micah Richards said on Match of the Day: “The difference between Arsenal winning the league or winning these games is a centre-forward.”

After Arteta’s pessimistic update on Jesus, his and Arsenal’s need has become even more urgent, but finding a solution in January appears difficult. Not only did Arsenal fail to push through a move for Sesko, but he has since signed a five-year contract with RB Leipzig, while Gyokeres would also be a target for Europe’s elite if he were to come onto the market. His former coach at Sporting, Ruben Amorim, would surely love to be reunited with him at Old Trafford. Alexander Isak, who showed his talent to Arsenal’s cost in Tuesday’s game, scoring at the Emirates, is completely unattainable. He is now worth considerably more than the £60 million Newcastle paid to sign him from Real Sociedad in August 2022. Newcastle fans would insist on taking that figure, and then doubling it.

Arteta might point to the fact that Arsenal have scored 39 goals in the Premier League, only eight fewer than Liverpool. That is the same as Chelsea, and only Tottenham Hotspur (42) have scored more between them and Arne Slot’s league leaders. However, as Arsenal have found out in the past two seasons when losing the Premier League to Manchester City, the pursuit of trophies is built on marginal gains, and Arteta and his team are painfully paying the price.