Mikel Arteta may buy a striker this month, but one player does not solve Arsenal’s issues as another title slips away
THE greatest hits of Arsenal’s season will inevitably play out across the land in the coming days after another knife to the heart of their title dreams.
‘We need a striker. We need an out-and-out goal scorer. We can’t win a trophy without a No.9.’
Those prayers may yet be answered during this transfer window, even if time is running out to find what many fans and pundits alike believe to be the missing piece to the jigsaw.
But regardless of whether that mystery man finally arrives at the Emirates, either this month or in the summer, he will be walking into a team and a club currently on their knees both mentally and physically in their pursuit of English football’s Holy Grail.
As a standalone result, blowing a two-goal lead at home to Aston Villa is a tough pill to swallow, having dominated for large periods in a must-win game to keep the pressure on leaders Liverpool.
Now six points adrift with Arne Slot’s Reds having played one less after 22 games, it is not over, nor is it looking likely they will overhaul that ominous gap.
But in the wider context of the Gunners’ campaign, their progress under boss Mikel Arteta and the vast sums invested in recruitment over the past five years, it paints a much bleaker picture.
Arsenal remain far away from ending their 21-year wait for a Prem crown they so desperately crave – and it is not purely down to lacking an Erling Haaland or Alexander Isak-type figure.
Since Arteta took over in December 2019, around £700m has been spent on new players. A huge squad overhaul that has lifted them from mid-table obscurity to genuine challengers.
And yet, against Villa, injuries to a few key players saw Arteta put out a worryingly patched-up XI with a bench that is laughable when compared to their rivals in terms of depth and quality.
Midfielder Thomas Partey was at right-back. Full-back Jurrien Timber was at centre back. Left winger Gabriel Martinelli had to do a job on the right.
Loanee Raheem Sterling was the only recognised attacking sub alongside three academy kids in Maldini Kacurri, Ismeal Kabia and Nathan Butler-Oyedeji who have little to no senior experience.
Of course, injuries have played a part this term.
Striker Gabriel Jesus will miss most of 2025 with an ACL rupture. Winger Bukayo Saka is out until at least early march after undergoing hamstring surgery. Right-back Ben White is close to a return following a knee operation. Defenders William Saliba and Riccardo Calafiori were absent on Saturday night with minor muscular issues.
Despite all this, Arsenal should have beaten Villa thanks to goals from Martinelli and Kai Havertz before an eight-minute second half collapse that saw Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins make the most of defensive errors from Partey and Mikel Merino to earn a momentum-crushing point in North London.
The issue then, is clear. Arteta still requires near-perfection – his best 11 players on the pitch at all times – for his side to consistently gobble up wins and keep pace at the top.
And when that is not the case, cracks start to show and the foundations become rocky, shown by their recent FA Cup third round exit to Manchester United and Carabao Cup semi-final first leg defeat to Newcastle.
It was the same in 2022/23 when they fell short to Manchester City after Saliba’s back injury, and again last season with Partey and Timber absent for large periods.
City may also be suffering thanks to a medical team working overtime, but they can still call on the likes of £100m signing Jack Grealish, £55.5m forward Jeremy Doku and Ilkay Gundogan in reserve, and are adding further names to that list in this window.
In search of a late winner at Brentford on Saturday, Liverpool threw on club-record £85m buy Darwin Nunez, the Uruguayan scoring twice in injury time to seal the deal.
Arsenal desperately need a world class forward, but they also still need to add to a squad that can deal with the rough and tumble of gruelling league campaigns when injuries go against them.
As Arteta said when asked about his options post-match: “We’re very short”.
The Spaniard slumped to his knees when Merino’s 87th deflected winner was ruled out by VAR for a Havertz handball.
Luck is against them right now, but it takes more than luck to win a league title. More often than not, it requires money, and lots of it.