Perhaps Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and set-pieces are not enough to win the Premier League for Arsenal. The disappointing 0-0 draw with Everton showed that the Gunners should have spent more in the transfer market.
Arsenal have no plans to spend big in January despite being tipped to win the title as Manchester City falter. Meanwhile, the Citizens have said they will back Pep Guardiola in the transfer market as they look to stem their alarming decline.
The Gunners now believe that only injury or a particularly unexpected opportunity will prompt them to spend a significant amount of money in January. When talking about transfer needs, Mikel Arteta often points to the available personnel options, alongside daily improvement. Of course, the Spaniard is not wrong.
Odegaard, Saka and Arsenal's set-pieces have been a great combination in recent times. But that has masked a lack of game-changing options at Arteta's disposal, with the 0-0 stalemate at Everton being the most obvious example.
Everton had 10 days off due to the postponement of the Merseyside derby with Liverpool. And so they had more rest and practice than Arsenal, who had two extra games in the same period. It was an unusual imbalance that no doubt contributed to the draw. But while the final 20 minutes were frantic, it was the kind of controlled chaos that Arsenal are so good at.
However, misplaced passes or poor selection in the final third disrupted the attacking momentum that Arsenal usually creates to overwhelm opponents when goals are needed.
Arsenal’s substitutions have not helped, and that’s down to Arteta and those involved. Kai Havertz had a lacklustre game, while Gabriel Jesus has now failed to score in his last 23 league appearances, and has scored just once in 34 in all competitions. Leandro Trossard has been ineffective, while Raheem Sterling hasn’t even started.
Arsenal have produced some magical moments in recent months, but they could soon be looking for new stars if they continue to suffer similar dismal results.
"We did everything well, except scoring. If there was one team that deserved to win, it was Arsenal. We didn't have a shot on target from Everton, we controlled the game, pressed well, didn't let the opposition run or get free-kicks.
"We created three or four clear chances but didn't do enough in the last 20 metres to score. That's what you have to do when you dominate like that, because we've dominated in this way before," Arteta said after the draw with Everton.
