Arsenal v Man City

Arsenal truly do not need a new striker to score goals

(Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Arsenal has been urged to sign a new striker before it’s too late, prompting them to submit a bid for Ollie Watkins a few days ago.

Mikel Arteta has developed his team into a formidable attacking force, one that regularly scores goals, a trait they showcased throughout last season. However, this term, the Gunners have struggled to find the back of the net as frequently as they did previously, leading many to believe that a new striker is essential.

Several high-profile forwards, including Alexander Isak, have been linked with moves to the Emirates, but the question remains whether a new signing would truly solve Arsenal’s current attacking issues.

While Arteta’s side has been linked with plans to buy a striker, it seems overly simplistic to attribute all of Arsenal’s attacking struggles to just one position on the pitch. Last season, the Gunners relied on goals from all areas of the pitch, which played a huge part in their overall success. In fact, in their recent game against Manchester City, Arsenal proved that they could score without necessarily relying on an out-and-out striker.

Odegaard v Man City
(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Arsenal’s 5-1 victory over Manchester City, achieved without the presence of key players such as Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus, demonstrated that the team could still create and convert chances without a traditional centre-forward. This result also reinforced the idea that Arsenal can be unpredictable in their attacking play, as opponents cannot easily pinpoint who will score for them.

While adding a new striker to the squad could indeed provide more options for Arteta, it would not automatically resolve all the issues in the Gunners’ attacking play. The team’s approach to goals has evolved over time, with multiple players contributing in different ways. As such, the addition of a striker might bolster the attack, but it will not be the sole fix to Arsenal’s problems in front of goal. The club’s success this season will depend on more than just who plays as their frontman; it will require continued collective effort across the squad.

Tags Arsenal striker

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  1. No one is coming this transferwindow and no one is being sold. Tierney and Jorginho will leave for free at the end of this season. Terrible transferwindow.

  2. I am just glad and so so relieved that the Watkins rumour seems to have died down.
    What an absolute panic buy it would have been.
    We do need a better striker than Havertz but not 30 year old Watkins for £60 million plus. We are pelting Havertz but he has scored a goal more than Watkins so far this season. But to some he is the prolific striker that we need to take us to the next level. Has Watkins ever scored 25 goals in any season?

    This reminds me of the Ivan Toney panic last season (January). In January 2024 we were in the same situation and many were asking for us to pay £60 million plus for average Ivan Toney..

    The reactionary / sensationalistic nature of football fans gives me brain rot all the time. 🤦‍♂️

  3. With respect, the writer of the article is looking at the small picture. Why didn’t we score against Newcastle, why are we 6 plus points behind Liverpool and why has Haverz got one of the worst chance conversation rates in Europe and has the last 5 years. It doesn’t take a genius, even looking at the bare facts of the City game, because Haverz did what Haverz did, like before, it put the result in jeopardy. It wasn’t about the five goals, it was about the efficiency in front of goal.

    1. So why all the hype that we need a center forward.
      My feeling is that money was not made available.
      It was easier to win the Carabo Cup than the league. At least we would have a trophy in the cabinet.
      As of today I cannot see Liverpool loose three games in the league.

      1. No hype, just facts. We have not addressed the striker issue, since Auba was shipped out. Plus, he was the last player, to win us a trophy. Thats what strikers do. Tell me the last time Arsenal won a trophy, without a recognised striker?

      2. They don’t need to lose, they need to draw 2 or 3 games which is possible for us to catch up. They will lose at least one more this season but we need to absolutely perfect otherwise the title is heading back to Anfield.

        Hopefully we can turn this semi final on it’s head with a huge performance

    2. We definitely need a proper striker, but I’d rather we wait until the end of the season when we have a realistic chance of signing our top target, rather than making a panic buy. Right now, the best we could do in this window is someone like Ollie Watkins, which isn’t ideal.

      The emergence of Nwaneri has provided some relief in attack, and we should be able to manage until Saka returns in March. Besides, there’s no guarantee that adding a player now—especially one I don’t see as elite and who is approaching 30—will be enough to close the nine-point gap behind Liverpool.

      We explored loan deals for Evan Ferguson and Dušan Vlahović but refused to accept obligations to buy. Our top targets remain Alexander Isak and Benjamin Šeško, but there’s no chance of signing them this month.

      Jonathan David from Lille would have been a low-risk option for under £20M, given he has less than six months left on his contract. If he didn’t work out, we could have still sold him for a profit. However, the fact that no elite club is moving for him raises some concerns.

  4. What is also never reported is that signing a second choice forward this transfer window that may cost £50 million+ and £10 million a year+ in wages fundamentally means that’s £90+ million in future costs is committed. You can only commit that money once so not panicking and showing patience by waiting for first choice options (Isak hopefully) is the more prudent long term strategy. Fans will always want transfers, but saving money this window means there’s potentially more in the kitty this summer for who we really want.

    1. I agree with you. I read a long ish list that was drawn up regarding availability in the window that has just closed but wasn’t attracted to any, either based on suitability or long term cost not equating to value for money. If the club know what they are aiming for in the summer then a knee jerk reaction now could quite easily throw those plans into jeopardy.

  5. I knew this was coming as soon as we thrashed Mancity yesterday. We need to stop this knee jerk reaction after the match and rather look at the whole season has developed. You lot quickly forgot how we were dependent on goals from corners few games a go because our front line was blunt. The need of natural striker is there from the time Auba left. The margin of winning EPL is small and think about what striker that will get us 20% more conversion rate than Kai will do for us. And what Kai get injured? Are we going to rely on Trossard to carry us to the promised land.

    1. Where are you going to find these readily available top strikers that will take us to the so called promised land in this January?

      And you have more Wingers and Midfielders scoring more than these out and out strikers. The top EPL goal scorers are mostly midfielders and wingers. Halaand and Isak are may be the only recognised out and out strikers that are doing better than. The other strikers from the other PL teams are also giving average performances like Havertz is doing for us. Watkins a Arsenal fans favourite has scored one more goal this seaeon than our very average Havertz. But people are still clamouring for him.

      The “Director Of Football” position is vacant now that Edu left for Nottigham Forest. Some of our fans have got to send in their CV’s as they always speak with this confidence when it comes to transfers. They seem to be more competent than the likes of Arteta, Edu, Josh Kroenke etc..
      🙏🤞👍

      1. Excuses as usual. The need of a striker is not something new that just come to surface. What was the excuses for the past two summers? Also, if Havertz is top striker you will be comparing him to the likes of Halland and Isak and not to the likes of Watkins who was never prolific. For context, Kai’s conversion rate is way below most of the strikers in the top teams in Europe.

        1. It’s not excuses. It’s reality that some fans don’t seem to comprehend. Just because this striker talk is the shiny talking point at the moment people have lost their minds. They keep criticising but then when asked to rationally analyse the situation they don’t want to. They just continue to shout “We just need to find a top top striker in January”.

          So I will ask you again. Where are these Top strikers readily available?
          The striker market has been so poor in the last few seasons. Halaand and Isak seem to be the only quality strikers around in the EPL. We ain’t going to buy any so called serious Top striker in January. Where are you going to find these strikers right now. There is a difference between wanting something and being able to achieve it.

          Look:
          Liverpool bought Nunez for £80 million and what happened to him?

          Chelsea bought Jackson, what has he done so far?.

          Man United bought Rasmus Hojlund £70 million and Zirkzee £40 million. How have they gotten so far?

          Spurs bought Richarlison for £60 million and last summer added Solanke for £65 million. What level have they taken spurs?

          Aston Villa have this top striker called Watkins, but what exactly has he done for them season? He has scored 10 goals while Havertz has 9 goals so far this season. Villa are in midtable as we speak.

          So how woulf you work your “Director Of Football magic” right now if you were in charge at Arsenal this January? Where would you find us this top top striker that we desperately need? How would you go about it? 🤞

            1. That’s not our Job. Everyone knew we needed a clinical finisher the last two year but all we hear is excuses after excuses. You all behaving as if this issue just come up. The last legit striker was Auba and we had several transfer window to find his replacement since his departure.

              1. Well, it has just come up in this transfer window and for good reason – injury to Jesus. The fact that the issue has not been dealt with before is down to Arteta and/or the deal not getting done in the summer as hoped.

                1. If Arteta doesn’t see the value of clinical finisher, that’s on him and he has to be held accountable and fans needs to stop giving excuses. He had multiple windows to sort it and everyone knew it was irresponsible to go with Havertz as the main striker. This is similar to when Wenger refused to address the lack of proper CDM in the team

              2. So if it’s not our job then stop going on about it like you know jack crap. Or may the football people at Arsenal can see what some of us can see in the Striker Transfer market? There is no value for money right now. People keep suggesting average strikers that are worse or at the same level as Havertz. If we think that Havertz is so bad as a striker then why are our fans creaming them when it comes to the likes of Ivan Toney, Watkins etc? Watkins has never scored 25 goals in a season and is on 10 goals this season while Havertz the donkey is on 9 goals. But the likes of Watkins are the type of a Top clinical striker that would take us to the next level?

                Please make it make logical sense to me.
                🤦‍♂️

            2. Marmoush
              Rashford
              Tel
              Ascenecio
              Ganacho
              Duran
              Watkins ( apparently lol)
              Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ( beautiful player )
              Kolo Muani
              Cunha ( release clause )
              N Williams ( release clause )
              Ferguson
              Xavi Simmons
              Osimehan
              Felix
              Nkunku
              Gimenez
              Just to name a few

              1. Just a random list of striker names.

                Most come with baggage and no guarantees (e.g. Rashford) or have failed (e.g. Felix).

                Others have just signed new contracts (Cunha) or have just got past a long injury (Nkunku).

                Marmoush played in the City match at the weekend – I saw nothing to suggest he’s the answer to anyone’s problems, even City’s.

                Then there’s those shipping out for the money to Saudi (Dhuran) and those too old to even think about (Asensio).

                Some are not even tested in the PL. Some are not for sale.

                1. The majority moved this window but are not for sale ?
                  It proved that there were options available

                  I was giving various examples of bodies just to compete and also better finishers then Havertz

                  If your picking individual games mate , didn’t Havertz prove in the two recent cup games he’s not at the level to win us a title or CL

                  1. You did give examples, Dan and you’d have signed one of them? Is this a short term panic buy or a well thought out strategy for the future? I’ve read a ton weight of posts referring to Aubameyang. He was that striker but nobody of his calibre was on your list or available. If they’re not available then it’s a pipe dream.
                    I’m not doubting that a classic striker is the answer but all I could see was a panic buy unless the club’s main target could be prised away from their club.

          1. Didn’t need a top striker
            Needed someone who’s a better finisher then Havertz
            At the very least another option / body to help the attacking players
            Can name you loads of players who moved that would have helped us

              1. Doesn’t just have to be a number nine
                We are short in attacking areas so even if you had someone competing
                Arteta said himself we are short
                I’m just proving options were there
                Havertz isn’t a natural number nine is he so by that logic ….
                About 6 of those names are better then him in the middle

                1. Of course it has to be a number 9, as we are covered for wide players. Also the number 9 has to fit into the way we play, meaning he has to work for the team, ie, closing down the opposition, dragging defenders out of position.

                  1. Covered ? Your knowledge is shocking.
                    We started Sunday with a left midfielder on the right
                    The other options is a Am who is 17
                    Up front we have someone our manager says is not a striker
                    A manager who said we are short in attacking areas

                    1. A left midfielder on the right ? He’s a left winger that played on the right wing. And you reckon my knowledge is shocking 😂. Pot. Kettle. Black, are the words that spring to mind.

                      As for the 17 AM, he’s proved that he can play the Saka role.

                      So with Trossard, Martinelli, Saka and Nwaneri we are covered on the wings.

                    2. We are 6 points behind the leaders with a game in hand ?
                      Have gone out of the FA Cup and are 2-0 down in the Carabo Cup , both of which clearly converting chances were an issue
                      Yet you say , the only fan/ pundit I heard say this ( after Arsenal didn’t buy anyone not before ) but you claim. in Feb 2025 we don’t need a number 9 and are covered in the wide areas

                      I don’t want when we don’t win title and CL for you to claim you didn’t say this

              2. And you said yourself

                wonder if Osimhen is on the move from Galatasaray as they’ve now signed Morata from AC Milan.

                So you can name a number 9.
                The moment Arsenal don’t you now feel like your not allowed to say anything bad

                Caught you out lol

                1. Yes I did say that, but I never posted that we were in for him.

                  Seeing as I’ve never said in this window that we need to sign a number 9, then no, I don’t need to name one 😂

                  If you honestly think you’ve caught me out then thinking is not your strongest point 😁

                  1. No mate I think you shown your true colours
                    If you think we don’t need a striker I question either how long / much you watch Arsenal or if it’s more important to you to not concede Arsenal do anything wrong

                    Just interesting that only now you write we don’t need a number 9 and not when we discussed Watkins ?

                    1. I would take Watkins all day long. Knows where the goal is and works for the team. Would fit into our way of playing.

                    2. But why in an article where there were over 120 comments did you not say …..I dont think we need a number 9 ?

                    3. I started going to Highbury while you were probably still in your dad’s sack, and I watch every single game The Arsenal play 😁

                    4. Well I’m pretty sure there’s no rule on JA that says everyone has to post on every article 🙄

                    5. But you did comment on that article.
                      Only now your saying you didn’t think we needed a number 9.
                      Just weird you would not mention that when the topic was buying a number 9.

            1. The last two seasons we scored 88 goals and 91 goals in both those season.. Those are some of the highest numbers of goals scored in a season in our club history.

              So your claim that we have lacked a striker in the last two season does not add up.

              1. Well Goonster,

                It does add up. Yes the team has still been pretty free scoring. And two of the things that helped there, was that the team was sharing the goals around, and the the system that was being used suited the way the team played.

                But for some unknown reason, Arteta has decided to play a more pragmatic way this season. Why I don’t know, because the defense hasn’t been the thing that’s cost the team the title in the past couple of seasons. Although I will say that losing Saliba for those games late in the 2022/2023 season didn’t help.

                But the need for an out and out striker has always been there. In the tight games where we might only get one or two chances, that’s when a real finisher would have been worth there weight in gold.

                I’m afraid that in a tight game, the last player you want the chance to fall to is a certain Kia Havertz.

          2. Goonster,

            Its not just the talking point at the moment. It’s been a talking point for the past three seasons, and it’s something that Arteta has failed to address.

            But we shouldn’t hold him to account for it should we.🙄🤦‍♂️

  6. I knew this was coming as soon as we thrashed Mancity yesterday. We need to stop this knee jerk reaction after the match and rather look at the whole season has developed. You lot quickly forgot how we were dependent on goals from corners few games a go because our front line was blunt. The need of natural striker is there from the time Auba left. The margin of winning EPL is small and think about what striker that will get us 20% more conversion rate than Kai will do for us. And what if Kai get injured? Are we going to rely on Trossard to carry us to the promised land?

  7. We do still need a striker. There was just no available ones in winter so we are just out of luck and have to wait till summer. In my mind the title race is still pretty much over anyways so I’m not that bothered. This team doesn’t score enough goals and doesn’t fully live up to their potential. If they did we’d be first and have at least one title by now.

    1. To be honest this team has been been increasing the amount of goals it scores every season from 2021/22 season.
      Here:
      2021/22 – 61 Goals.
      2022/23 – 88 Gooals.
      2023/24 – 91 Goals.
      2024/25 – 49 Goals so far….

      But I do agree with you that this team seems to have so much potential but it keeps underwhelming us. It’s a anticlimactic team. That’s down to Arteta. He is the manager. This has been one of my biggest criticism of Arteta. A clear pattern seems to be forming each season now. Poor in cup competitions and anticlimactic in the league..

      Arteta needs break out of this rot of just being a bridesmaid.

      1. Mate, anticlimactic in the league? We way over performed in both seasons we finished runner-up. Just compare squads and there is no way we should have been so close to City.

        So while coming so close and finishing 2nd might feel anticlimactic in reality is was a huge success on both occasions. However, after two great seasons we should have built on that success but haven’t really as much as we might have.

  8. And as many pundits have said, Kai scored the 4th goal. Not the 2nd goal that would’ve put city on the ropes even earlier. We all know and have experienced the matches where players don’t kill off games and we drop points. It’s happened to us several times already. Meanwhile, Liverpool have players like Salah that score with their eyes closed.

    1. Can’t give the guy a break can you. Not just you but everyone. It wouldn’t have mattered if he had scored a hat-trick it’s the fact he missed THAT chance. He could score 25 goals this season but people will moan if we finish runner-up again and say he should have scored 30 because he missed this chance and that. No one ever considers that he misses chances because he’s exhausted from constantly fighting defenders, battling in the air, closing down the GK and centre-backs all game, every game. Haaland gets tap-ins because that’s all he does all game. You will never see Havertz go 30+ mins in a game with touching the ball because he works for the team. This constant barrage of hate towards him is completely unjustified and demonstrates what a bunch of ungrateful lot Arsenal fans can be.

  9. We have a good result against City and then it’s all peachy all of a sudden? We’ve looked pretty toothless in some games this season. United in the Cup is a perfect example.
    Not only that, an injury to Havertz and then who do we have? Martinelli isn’t clinical enough and we don’t get enough goals from midfield. It’s not just about having a “9” – the squad is stretched in offensive positions, and the club have once again failed to make any serious attempt at signing anyone.

  10. It is true that we don’t need a new striker to score goals. We have always scored goals. But it is also true that we need another striker to improve our efficiency in front of goal. We also need a striker for the basic reason that we only have one at the moment.Getting over the line is all about fine margins and a more efficient goalscorer helps with that.

    That said,it doesn’t seem like any quality striker is available and we’ll have to wait unfortunately.

  11. I keep saying that This current Arsenal team has goals across its spine. But for some reason this season all of them have dried up. For the last few seasons our midfielders such as Odegaard, Partey, Rice have been threats on goal. All chipping in goals. Then you has the likes of Saka, Trossard, Martinelli etc also threats. On top of that we had our CB (Gabriel) a threat in corners all the time Gabriel has remained consistent with his headed corners kick goal..

    But this season the our midfielders and front players have been absolutely bland. So Havertz is being exposed because all our other reliable scorers have all gone missing this season.

  12. Our hopes now lies with Nwaneri and Trossard. The only clinical finishers outside of Saka. Even Gabriel and Calafiori look more clinical than Havertz

    1. Neutral,

      That’s one game. If you think that one result means no need for a striker.

      Then I’ll be interested to see what you say in May, if and when we fail to win anything again.

      Who knows, it might be the balls fault.🙄🤦‍♂️

  13. We are currently the second highest goals for in the league, behind pool by seven goals and the second strongest defence in the league behind pool by one goal.
    We currently sit second in the PL and finished 3rd in the CL.

    How did we achieve the above without a striker?
    Teamwork, belief, organisation and the use of “Dark Arts” as that can be the only other explanation.

    I’m surprised we haven’t signed anyone, but, who knows, the real target we were after couldn’t be signed until the summer.

    Of course, if we had signed anyone, it would be labelled as a panic buy, showing the club had no planning – while, as we haven’t signed anyone, it’s labelled as showing the club has no ambition.

    Damned if you do, damned if you don’t Mr Kronkie and Mikel Arteta.

    1. We are also 6 points behind Liverpool who have a game in hand
      Out of the FA Cup and 2-0.down in Carabo Cup

      We are told ambition is to be Champions
      Arteta told us not to accept 2nd

      So we are failing to meet those targets correct ?
      Lets look why
      It’s not due to us defensively but I certainly saw evidence in Cup ties that we need a better goal scorer then we have
      I saw evidence at Fulham, Brighton , Newcastle , Bournemouth , home to Everton, a failure to create enough chances
      At the very least we are short of options
      So you simply bring in players to help
      A club with ambition would have

      1. So we lost to all the clubs you mention in the fa cup and the Carabo Cup and it was the defence who let them in!!
        So why are you saying it definitely wasn’t the defence?

        One minute the cry is panic buying, the next it’s no ambition.

        Ever occurred to you that the players the club want, aren’t available?
        Your solution?
        Go out and buy anyone just to appease a section of the fanbase and to show ambition.
        By not buying anyone, I think it shows leadership despite the cries from said section – if the players MA wants are not available, he’ll wait till they are and keep on putting the pressure on in the PL and CL, while waiting for Saka, White and Tomiyasu to return for the second part of the saga..

        1. It’s opinions but yes over a period of time I think a Saliba and Gabriel’s body of work is better then what Havertz has shown in front of goals
          I think if you have not got enough to win the title and struggling for numbers ( and our manager said we are short of options ) then you find solutions to help
          If the answer is nothing is better then what we have then fine but if we now lose the title and CL due to not having enough up front this won’t be forgotten by certain fans
          It’s not up to me to tell you how to support your club and good on anyone who can find positives but I don’t get how anyone can defend the owners after this
          But at same time I respect that if you defend them after this you always will

          1. No other squad went a full season undefeated in the PL – no other club has won the league at Manure, WHL twice or Liverpool in it’s history – so why shouldn’t a squad win the league without a recognised striker?
            As I say, we’re the second highest scorers in the PL without a recognised striker, so I can find plenty of positives, along with negatives.
            Actually, it is ALL about how many we score, because scoring goals win you matches, missing them doesn’t and ALL teams miss opportunities and until their in the net, that’s all they are.

            Would I have liked to see a signing up front? Of course.
            Does not signing one mean it’s all over and The Arsenal lack ambition?
            Total BS

            1. That team who went unbeaten had Thierry Henry , Bergkamp , Pires , Lungberg.
              Reyes , Wiltord , Kanu on the bench .
              You can’t compare that to what we have now surely ?
              Of course anything can happen but most of the time you need to have the best players .
              We simply don’t have that in attack .
              That’s not a disgrace .There is zero offense to not quite be at the level of winning titles . Hence why they needed some help that’s all
              But the ambition is not to be Champions this season and like I said I think there’s a few readers on here who will still say that’s okay when we finish 2nd .
              Like I said , it’s up to you how to support your club

  14. Fans that have a go at the club for spending 750 so far might have made the club a bit hesitant with their small club mentality opinion We should be spending a lot more than 750 that’s what the biggest clubs do So keep your small club mentality zipped in the future

  15. We really need the striker and that is not a dig at Havertz. Havertz would only be better with a strong CF. We need to be able to change up games, change our focal points and add another person that defences need to worry about.

    I am really disappointed that we didn’t sign someone in the summer and I think the same lack of signing killed our chances last year.

    I am less disappointed that we didn’t needlessly sign this winter. Not really knowing who was available and at what cost bothers me less.

    Regardless of the big signing, we need cover and we have to work on that going forward.

    We have a good starting group even now with injuries but we do not have much to change things up.

    I just hope that Saka’s and White’s returns do not lull us into a false sense of security.

  16. Big, big mistake not sign reinforcements. If Kai goes down who will we play as striker? Maybe we could manage for one game (if it is not a big game) but if we miss him for a few weeks we are finished despite the fact that he is good but not great. Needs too many chances.

  17. Now Arsenal can do with an alternating forward who is not glued at the front but always pulls out to create space for teammates so that he does not become the primary target

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