Manager Mikel Arteta's stubbornness is perhaps why Arsenal didn't take a chance on Ivan Toney last summer, with the England striker moving to Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli for £40m.
Arteta could also push harder to sign RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko or Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres, if he truly believes there is a need for a new No.9. However, when looking for the final piece of the perfect puzzle, it is understandable that standards and expectations will be high.
And the Gunners' need for a striker at this time will be difficult due to the harsh reality of the 2025 winter transfer market.
"Everyone is looking for a striker who scores 20 goals a season, but the best ones are at the biggest clubs and the rest are unproven," a former Premier League sporting director told ESPN.
"Man City have Haaland, Bayern Munich have Harry Kane, Robert Lewandowski is at Barcelona and Real Madrid have signed Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer from PSG. Plus, you're taking a gamble.
Gyokeres and Samu Omorodion are scoring a lot of goals this season, but the Portuguese national championship is not strong enough to ensure their success in a top league. Darwin Nunez, who signed for Liverpool from Benfica, is an example of that," added the former Premier League sporting director.
According to British media, Arteta opted not to pursue Toney last summer, preferring to rely on Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling. Gyokeres was highly sought after, but with a €100m release clause at Sporting, the fee was too high. Meanwhile, Sesko had a poor EURO 2024 campaign with Slovenia and has signed a new contract with Leipzig.
Going into the season, Arteta and Arsenal lacked an ideal option and every potential signing was a gamble. But six months on, their reluctance to make a move is starting to look like hesitation and caution. It could be argued that every missed opportunity on the pitch for Arsenal reflects other missed opportunities in the transfer market.
The search for a striker could take Arsenal from title contenders to champions, but Arsenal's options now are the same as those they rejected last summer.
