Arsenal’s season looks set to be defined by the lack of urgency to recruit a forward in both the summer and winter transfer windows.
Mikel Arteta wanted a forward in January but, the Arsenal manager’s plea to the board was not answered.
Now, the Gunners’ chances of winning the Premier League have shrunk considerably as Arteta continues to attempt to weather his injury storm with limited resources.
Frustration is growing due to Arsenal’s transfer approach in the market for a striker however, history tells us that the North Londoners actually had the answers to their final third woes without a number nine.
- READ MORE: Mikel Arteta blasted by Ian Wright for missing out on Arsenal ‘gamble’ in 2022 transfer error
Statistic proves Mikel Arteta had solved major Arsenal issue
Signing a striker has become a measurement of Arsenal’s chances of winning silverware and frustratingly, Arteta hasn’t been handed the profile his squad so desperately needs.
That being said, the urgency to recruit a goalscorer hasn’t always been this overwhelming at the Emirates, as a previous statistic proves.
On X, a statistic from 2022 re-emerged to showcase the remarkable array of creative talent Arteta had in his ranks in the 2022/23 campaign.
In December 2022, it was reported that Arsenal were the only Premier League team to have four or more players who had created 20 or more chances from open play.
The re-emergence of the figures is all the more frustrating as out of the five players to complete the feat mid-way through the campaign, Arteta only has one available to him.
Martin Odegaard is the last man standing in the ranks, with Granit Xhaka no longer at the club and Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli all injured.
To think that the Arsenal squad had so much creative talent on show only two years ago is a painful reality check for the club, whose failure to recruit depth going forward has completely derailed the season.
Arsenal fans question the root of Mikel Arteta’s attacking issues
Arsenal’s injury list has plagued the season but, so has the failure to recruit, which has caused fans great frustration throughout the course of 2024/25.
Interestingly, when reflecting on the re-emerging statistic, Arsenal fans didn’t mention the need for more attacking signings but, pointed fingers at Arteta’s desire to change the playing style.
“Everything started with the coach trying to reinvent the LCM, instead of improving squad depth and competition,” a frustrated Arsenal fan said.
The supporter’s dissatisfaction was a thought shared by several others on social media.
- “Apparently we wanted more control. The reality is we signed Kai Havertz and Declan Rice who though they are good cannot help you play that exciting football.”
- “Arteta abandoned this philosophy for the sake of duel winners, see where we are now.”
- “From this to the obsession of “control”. So slow and predictable.”
A lot has changed at Arsenal this season, and not for the better, as the excitement from the 2022/23 campaign and the defensive excellence of 2023/24 have not been fused as hoped this term.
Lessons have been learned and results must be acted upon in the summer, with Arteta now having all the tools to ensure his project does not amount to another year without silverware.
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