He cost just £14M but Premier League ace is showing Mikel Arteta exactly what is missing at Arsenal

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Arsenal are scrambling around in the final few hours of the January transfer window to find that elusive striker to help fire them to silverware.

Arsenal have been given hope in their pursuit of Ollie Watkins but are relying on Aston Villa changing their current stance on the England international.

Mikel Arteta is in need of attacking firepower given the injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus and the inconsistent finishing ability of Kai Havertz.

Arteta has told fans that they club are trying to sign a forward but perhaps the Spaniard is regretting an opportunity that passed the club by back in the summer of 2023.

READ MORE: Arsenal have blocked transfer for ‘excellent’ star, he wants to leave in the summer

Arsenal should have signed Chris Wood from Newcastle in 2023

Whilst hindsight is a wonderful thing, Arsenal may look back upon the Summer of 2023 when they opted to sign Havertz from Chelsea in a bid to fill their striker void.

Havertz has been an excellent signing for Arsenal and his commitment and desire can never be questioned but Chris Wood also moved that window for just over £14m to Nottingham Forest.

The New Zealand international earlier fired a hat trick for Forest in their win over Brighton and brought up his 17th Premier League goal of the season.

His physical presence and clinical finishing has been a vital element in Nottingham Forest going from relegation strugglers to Champions League contenders.

Chris Wood thrives from quality crosses from his wingers

Wood could be described as an old-fashioned centre forward: someone who stays within the width of the penalty area, occupies centre backs and knows where the goal is.

A key factor in him scoring the goals he has this season has been the service provided from the likes of Antony Elanga, Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Arsenal fans can only imagine his output if he had the likes of Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli providing quality service for the big striker to finish off.

Attentions now need to be forward in the transfer market for Arsenal as it is vital that a forward option is signed before the deadline however, you can’t help but wonder what Chris Wood may have done in this Arteta side.