Arsenal need to find the next Robin van Persie. It could be a touchy subject at the Emirates, where the former Dutch striker was more despised than loved after leaving to join Manchester United for £24m in 2012.
However, if Arsenal find a striker who can do what Van Persie did at Old Trafford, their Premier League title drought will soon end.
Van Persie left the Emirates after becoming frustrated with his continued failure to win silverware. Instead, Van Persie signed for Manchester United, where his 26 goals helped secure Sir Alex Ferguson's last Premier League title and United's most recent in the 2012-13 season.
Sometimes a signing can make all the difference. Eric Cantona transformed Manchester United from mid-table to champions in 1992-93, and Van Persie had a similar effect 20 years later.
Having twice finished runners-up to Manchester City in the title race in 2022-23 and 2023-24, Arteta’s Arsenal now find themselves in the position that Ferguson’s United escaped by signing Cantona and Van Persie. More worryingly for Arsenal, both Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling now face weeks on the sidelines after picking up injuries.
But while Arsenal's lack of a reliable centre-forward has been an obvious problem for nearly two years, they have yet to address it.
Man City's strength and dominance - not to mention Erling Haaland's goals - may have denied Arsenal the last two Premier League titles. However, with the Citizens struggling this season, Arsenal's failure to strengthen their attack looks set to cost them another trophy.
Arne Slot's Liverpool are currently top of the table thanks in no small part to Mohamed Salah's 15 Premier League goals.
Kai Havertz is Arsenal's top scorer in the league this season with just six goals. The German striker is currently 14th in the race for the Golden Boot, while Saka is 22nd with five goals.
Had Arteta signed a proven striker, disappointing draws against Brighton, Fulham and Everton – as well as defeats to Man City and Liverpool – could have been more positive, and Arsenal could then head into 2025 with a much better chance of becoming Premier League champions for the first time since 2004.
But is it really that easy to find a modern-day Van Persie or Cantona? Or do Arsenal have to go back in time and discover another Ian Wright, Nicolas Anelka or Thierry Henry?
