Arteta's new-look XI as Arsenal fix huge error with three deals and player exit

Arsenal look set to finish second in the Premier League for the third straight year - close, just not close enough.

In fact this looks as if it'll be the furthest they've been from the title in those three years with Liverpool storming clear and the Gunners unable to keep pace as they deal with a hefty injury list, which has exposed their lack of depth, especially in attack.

Mikel Arteta has presided over an impressive rise, but now fans and the club want trophies to show for it. Big money has been spent and it looks as if the north Londoners will need to seriously invest once again if they want to become champions.

Their biggest flaw is glaringly obvious and wasn't addressed in January. If there's one player the club haven't signed in recent windows it is a prolific striker and that has been a clear point of difference between them and their rivals.

The likes of Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland and Alexander Isak have spearheaded attacks elsewhere in the league, with the Newcastle frontman being linked with an Emirates switch, but the Gunners' pursuit of the Swede may depend on their financial situation.

Selling before buying

It seems almost unfathomable that Arteta won't be pictured alongside a prolific striker this summer as Arsenal finally address their issues in the final third. Kai Havertz has served as a false 9 for a prolonged period and Gabriel Jesus cannot hit the numbers required.

Alan Shearer confessed it was a huge blunder that the club were unable to get someone through the door, despite going after the likes of Ollie Watkins late in January.

He said: “Either they couldn’t get a striker in, or Mikel Arteta didn’t want one, but whatever way around it, it’s clear to see that Arsenal have made a huge error in that position.”

Talk this summer is likely to be of Isak joining, but it would require a British-record fee before Newcastle even considered selling. It means attention could turn to Benjamin Sesko at RB Leipzig with the Slovenian previously being linked with a switch to the Premier League.

He would be far more attainable and the German club have shown themselves willing to sell their best players when the time and the fee is right. Big names like Dominik Szoboszlai and Ibrahima Konate have left the club and gone on to bigger clubs with Sesko tipped to do likewise as he continues to find the net.

The issue for Arsenal and their pursuit of goals is the money it will cost. Mirror Football has reported that the club may have to sell one of their forwards to finance their summer activity. Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have both attracted attention from Saudi Arabia.

Neither player has hit the form they have in seasons gone by, but both are very highly thought of by Arteta. That would make offloading them all the more difficult, but it may be a case of needs must.

Star quality needed

Too often this season Arsenal have been blunted in the final third. Go back to the start of the season and there was a narrative suggesting the Gunners could only score from set pieces. They haven't been as electric as they have in previous seasons and a few injuries has quickly exposed their forward line.

Arteta may therefore think he needs to go into the market and land himself the type of individual who can make something out of nothing. That could lead to them reigniting their interest Nico Williams, who shone for Spain at Euro 2024, scoring against England in the final.

He's currently at Athletic Bilbao but is understood to have a very achievable release clause. His pace was a huge plus for Spain and he would provide a genuine threat out wide, stretching defences, whilst having the ability to cut inside. He played impressively from the left, which means there would be no clash with Bukayo Saka, who plays off the right.

One of Williams' international team-mates in Martin Zubimendi is tipped to join Arsenal this summer after several years of links. Arteta is known to be an admirer and he showed how impressive he can be at the base of the midfield, coming in for Rodri during the Euros and excelling.

Arsenal raided Real Sociedad for Mikel Merino last summer and may well return for another Spaniard, who was heavily linked with a switch to Liverpool last summer.