Arsenal's recent performances have shone a spotlight on their ongoing striker issues, particularly highlighted in matches against Newcastle and Manchester United. Despite generating chances worth 6.44 expected goals across these games, the Gunners managed to score just once. This inefficiency in front of goal underscores a significant challenge for the club, further exacerbated by the loss of Bukayo Saka due to injury. As the January transfer window approaches, Arsenal faces the complex task of bolstering their attack amidst an already tough market, drawing comparisons to Liverpool's effective front line.
The Gunners' struggle can partly be attributed to the lack of impact from recent signings. Both Merino and Calafiori have made only 12 starts each, failing to significantly enhance Arsenal's attacking prowess. Kai Havertz, the team's top scorer with 12 goals, has also faced difficulties lately, with nine shots worth 1.91 expected goals in the last two games failing to find the net.
"Bringing in bodies doesn't help us at all." – Mikel Arteta
Arteta's approach to recruitment underlines the club's challenges. The focus has predominantly been on defensive reinforcements rather than attacking options. Since Arteta took charge, Arsenal has brought in only six attacking midfielders or forwards on permanent deals, compared to a substantial 18 defenders, defensive midfielders, or goalkeepers. Despite setting a club record for goals scored in the Premier League last season, they did not act in the summer to strengthen their attack sufficiently.
"It's about somebody who can immediately impact our performance and bring something we don't have." – Mikel Arteta
Arsenal's pursuit of RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko in the summer transfer window demonstrates their efforts to address this issue. However, navigating the January window presents even greater challenges, as it is typically harder to secure high-impact signings mid-season. Arteta has expressed the difficulty in finding attainable players who can genuinely improve the team.
The absence of Bukayo Saka has further accentuated Arsenal's striker issues, leaving a void that has yet to be filled effectively. Although Gabriel Jesus has been available, Arteta has seldom turned to him, with Jesus posting statistics comparable to Merino—a troubling indicator of Arsenal's current striking options.
In contrast, Liverpool's attack serves as a benchmark for Arsenal, as the Reds have only failed to win four out of 29 games where they had a higher expected goals total. This stark difference highlights why Arsenal's struggles up front are so concerning.
Across the last three seasons, Kai Havertz has emerged as one of the Premier League's biggest underperformers in terms of expected goals, scoring nearly five fewer goals than anticipated. This underperformance adds another layer of complexity to Arsenal's striker conundrum.
Arteta’s strategy often leans towards enhancing defensive solidity rather than offensive firepower. This trend is evident from the signings of Merino and Calafiori, which continued a pattern of focusing on strengthening the backline under his leadership.
"That is what you have when you have the real quality up front," – Mikel Arteta
Despite these challenges, Arsenal has actually overperformed their expected goals this season as a team. However, individual underperformance in key attacking areas remains a significant concern for the Gunners.
Looking back at last season, Arsenal’s attack appeared underpowered even before injuries plagued the squad. The Gunners failed to score in eight games across all competitions, indicating a longstanding issue that needs addressing.
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