He’s their new Ozil: 3/10 Arsenal star is no longer good enough to start

Arsenal’s Striker Dilemma: The Missing Piece in Arteta’s Puzzle

As Mikel Arteta addressed TNT Sports after Arsenal’s frustrating draw, his words carried a clear message—his squad is missing a crucial element. It doesn’t take a tactical mastermind to see the glaring issue: Arsenal desperately needs a striker.

The Gunners’ 1-0 loss to West Ham last Saturday felt like a decisive blow, a moment when their Premier League title ambitions started slipping away. That reality became even harsher after a disappointing 0-0 stalemate against Nottingham Forest, a night when rivals Liverpool once again secured maximum points.

The Turning Point: Arsenal’s Struggles Without a True No. 9

In truth, Arsenal’s title charge began unraveling long before this week. The injury to Kai Havertz, while perhaps unexpected, exposed an issue that had been brewing for months. Arteta’s squad needed reinforcements—someone, anyone—who could shoulder the burden and find the back of the net.

Since Havertz was sidelined during their Dubai trip, Arsenal has managed to score just two goals in three matches, relying on makeshift striker Mikel Merino to lead the line. Against West Ham, they lacked cutting edge; against Nottingham Forest, despite dominating possession, they never truly tested goalkeeper Matz Sels.

Forest boss Nuno Espírito Santo openly admitted that his team’s game plan was built around clogging the midfield. He knew Arsenal’s biggest weakness: without a recognized striker, they weren’t a threat in the box. Pundit Martin Keown was left nearly speechless at how predictable Arsenal’s attack had become.

Can Arteta Fix This Crisis?

The painful truth is that there’s little Arteta can do right now. He has experimented, trying different attacking setups in recent weeks. Against Leicester, Leandro Trossard played as a false nine before Merino was thrust into the role. But asking midfielders to solve a striker problem is like using a band-aid for a deep wound—it’s only a temporary fix.

Merino is doing his best, but this isn’t his natural position. The real failure lies with the Arsenal board, who failed to secure a proper forward during the winter transfer window. And now, as the season reaches its climax, the consequences of that oversight are painfully clear.

Arsenal isn’t just missing a striker—they’re missing their edge, their bite, their killer instinct. And unless something changes, their title dreams may already be fading into the distance.