How quickly things can change in football. A week and a half ago, Arsenal were failing to score for a consecutive Premier League match.
It marked more dropped points for Mikel Arteta’s men who had lost 1-0 to West Ham and then drew 0-0 with Nottingham Forest.
That result against Nuno Santo’s high flyers is no embarrassment. The top four contenders look well placed to secure Champions League football next season now having defeated Manchester City this weekend.
While Arsenal’s own ambitions have been flattened, they still look in good shape in the Champions League.
This is how swiftly circumstances can change. Just a week after that match against Forest, Arteta’s team travelled to Eindhoven where they dispatched PSV, winning 7-1.
So, is a striker required? Of course.
Arsenal’s attacking data in 2024/25
Speaking of quick turnarounds, the first half of 2024 was incredible for the Gunners who finished just two points behind City in the race for the title.
Between their opening league match of January and their season-ending clash against Everton, Arsenal lost just once to Aston Villa.
Their most notable run came this time last year, memorably beating West Ham 6-0, Sheffield United 6-0, Burnley 5-0 and Newcastle 4-1 over a remarkable four game period in late February and early March.
A year on, their form couldn’t be more different. They are without Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz for the season and having not signed anyone in January, they are relying on makeshift centre forward Mikel Merino to come up with the goods. To his credit, he does have three goals in four games from that role.
Goals *
1.9
2.4
Expected goals (xG) *
1.56
2.00
Shots on target *
4.8
6.0
Big chances missed *
3.1
3.0
Goal-creating actions *
3.22
4.00
Key passes *
11
13.5
But, as we can see, compared to last season’s Premier League, Arsenal are not creating as many chances, are having fewer shots on target and their expected goals per 90 is down.
So, what’s the solution?
Arsenal’s hunt for a new striker
All of the talk over recent months has centred on long-term target Alexander Isak but reportedly boasting a £150m asking price, a deal is incredibly unlikely.
Benjamin Sesko is another target but those two formidable forwards aren’t the only ones on Arteta’s radar.
They’re now said to be closing in on the appointment of Andrea Berta as the club’s new sporting director and the first signing of that era may already be close.
11 Arsenal sporting director candidates to replace Edu
There have been plenty of names linked.