Since taking charge of Arsenal, Mikel Arteta has gone through 11 transfer windows and spent more than £700 million. However, the team has only brought in 6 attacking players, including names that have not made an impression such as Willian or Raheem Sterling - who have now scored only 1 goal after 11 appearances this season.
Meanwhile, The Gunners have signed five goalkeepers, 11 defenders and 8 midfielders, a number that shows an imbalance in the Emirates' transfer strategy.
In particular, not prioritizing the purchase of a quality striker has caused Arsenal difficulties this season. In the summer of 2024, the "Gunners" missed out on the number 1 target Benjamin Sesko despite the release fee of only £55 million, completely within the club's financial capacity. Instead, they invested in non-urgent positions such as left-back Riccardo Calafiori and midfielder Mikel Merino with a total cost of £73 million.
Arsenal currently lack a classy centre-forward who can make the difference in important matches. The 0-2 loss to Newcastle in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final was a clear demonstration. While Alexander Isak shone brilliantly, The Gunners struggled with a shaky attack.
Isak was involved in both of Newcastles goals. Unfortunately, he had the ball in the box both times and that is what makes the difference for a quality attacking player" - Mikel Arteta shared.
Although Arsenal are not short of goals, with 39 goals in 20 Premier League games only behind Liverpool and Tottenham, these figures are not enough to fill missed opportunities. The Gunners' xG (expected goals) is often higher than their opponents. However, ineffective finishing has caused them to miss many important points.
Focusing too much on strengthening the defense and increasing muscle strength has made Arsenal less creative in attack. Walcott commented after the loss to Newcastle that The Gunners are currently relying too much on set pieces to score. This raises the question of whether Arteta's strategy is holding back the team's attacking ability?
Kai Havertz, who was bought for £65 million, was initially expected to replace Granit Xhaka in midfield. However, the German star was often used as a striker and this partly showed Arteta's confusion in tactics.
Arsenal may need to urgently adjust their transfer strategy. While Man City are actively chasing Omar Marmoush for £50 million to replace Julian Alvarez, the "Gunners" have yet to make any specific moves to add a real striker. Instead, the London team is stuck in finding quality options in the market.
Mikel Arteta once said that tactics are like lying on a blanket that is too small. At that time, if you pull down to keep your feet warm, your head will be cold and vice versa. However, it is clear that prioritizing defensive reinforcements while forgetting the attack has put Arsenal in a difficult position. A quality striker not only helps them improve their scoring performance but also reduces pressure on key players like Bukayo Saka.
If there is no change, Arsenal is at risk of continuing to lose steam in the title race. The contracts of many key players will expire in the next few years and if they do not invest heavily to add to the squad, they may have to pay a heavy price. Next summer will be an opportunity for Arsenal to correct their mistakes and bring back a classy center forward, something fans have been waiting for too long.
