Arsenal FC – Transfer news, results, fixtures, video & audio

Joe Bradshaw
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

The January sales have not quite arrived yet but with the transfer window opening in just over two weeks, Arsenal fans will be longingly eyeing the usual array of striking talent – likely only available at eye-watering prices.

Almost daily, this page has the Gunners linked with a new goalscorer, either through gossip or the thoughts of supporters.

And with the focus on so-called set-piece reliance recently, as well as slipping six points behind leaders Liverpool, cries for some ‘guaranteed’ goals are understandable.

But is that what Arsenal need? We’ve taken a look.

On the one hand, it could be argued Arsenal already have strikers, of sorts.

Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka together account for a third of the team’s goals, with the latter at it again in midweek as he bagged two against Monaco to secure a key Champions League win.

They are ably backed up by Leandro Trossard, himself not a classic forward, who has an eighth of their goals over the past two seasons, many of them crucial winners in tight games.

Indeed, along with Martin Odegaard, this quartet all helped themselves to more than 10 goals during the 2023-24 season and this campaign’s attempts to replicate have been hampered by the missing talismanic influence of their captain.

But what of their strikers?

Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah scored 14 goals last year, but with the latter gone, and the former yet to get off the mark this season, there is certainly a glaring absence at the top of the field.

Although far from a classic number nine, Havertz is usually fielded up top by Arteta so does make the “strikers” category for this graphic. Strip out his 24 goals, though, and the numbers in the striker column would look severely barren.

Add in the top goalscorers for title rivals Manchester City and Liverpool over the same time period to this chart and the dearth of Arsenal’s forward line is laid bare.

Since the start of last season, Arsenal have shared the goals around and it has made them a competitive force in both the Premier League and the Champions League.

But they keep falling short.

Would 20 goals or more from a so-called recognised striker be a difference-maker for the Gunners?

It certainly could not hurt.