Arsenal are the second high scorers within the Premier League this season with 49 objectives – however they want a striker, a talisman up entrance.
Newcastle, who do have one in Alexander Isak, had 17 photographs to Arsenal’s 34 throughout the 2 legs – and received 4-0.
Often soccer managers faux they’re pleased anyway after a switch window the place they fail to recruit however Arteta admitted he was “disenchanted” that they “have not achieved it”.
Aston Villa rejected an strategy from Arsenal for England striker Ollie Watkins within the week earlier than the switch window closed.
Rumours linking them to Isak, Wolves’ Matheus Cunha, Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and even Brighton’s Evan Ferguson went nowhere.
That leaves them with Kai Havertz – who’s extra of an attacking midfielder – as their solely actual possibility at quantity 9.
Havertz has accomplished nicely with 15 objectives in all competitions – however that’s nonetheless not quite a bit to be the highest scorer for a group preventing for a number of trophies.
The German is joint twelfth high scorer within the Premier League with 9, stage with Liam Delap, whose Ipswich City are within the relegation zone.
Gabriel Jesus – the final striker (though he’s additionally a large participant) they signed again in 2022 – is injured, as is star winger Bukayo Saka, who was their solely 20-goal scorer final season.
Arteta stated within the build-up to Wednesday’s recreation that Havertz may need to start out each recreation for the remainder of the season.
His different choices to play there, he stated, are wingers Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling, Ethan Nwaneri and Gabriel Martinelli.
Martinelli went off injured in opposition to Newcastle, Sterling has scored one objective for the membership and Nwaneri is 17.
Their final 20-goal-a-season striker was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (29 objectives in 2019-20). Since then Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette, Folarin Balogun and Eddie Nketiah are among the many strikers to depart the membership.
Sweden’s Isak, a reported goal, confirmed them what they had been lacking on Wednesday.
He ran the Gunners defence ragged, had a objective disallowed by the VAR for offside and hit the publish resulting in Jacob Murphy’s opener. He had additionally scored within the first leg – considered one of his 19 objectives this season.
“They’ve been extra environment friendly than us within the bins and that’s the distinction within the tie,” stated Arteta afterwards.
Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville, talking on Sky Sports activities, stated: “Isak on one facet and Havertz on the opposite – simply think about what the edges can be in the event that they swapped shirts.
“It has shone an enormous highlight on the toothlessness of Arsenal’s entrance gamers in comparison with Newcastle’s.”
Former England midfielder Jamie Redknapp added: “Havertz does a superb job up there however does he do an awesome job? No.
“I virtually really feel sorry for him due to the stick however Arsenal have had fantastic nines and the followers will know he is not within the class of the gamers they’ve had.
“The defenders could not deal with Isak, it’s like they’ve seen a ghost. That’s what Arsenal do not have.”
Whereas there could also be grumbles about Havertz, the actual fact is he’s their solely participant in double figures for objectives in all competitions – and the one one who has a superb quantity of expertise as a striker.
“They have not obtained numerous numbers,” stated former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given. “For Arsenal to realize something they need to preserve Havertz match and wrap him up in cotton wool. That could be a massive ask.”
