Arsenal has concluded its summer transfer window without securing a sought-after game-changing forward, leading to ongoing discussions about the club's strategy. While the possibility of signing a new attacker in January or next summer remains, the club's leadership faces scrutiny for not bringing in a key offensive player during this window.
Mikel Arteta, sporting director Edu Gaspar, and co-chair Josh Kroenke will likely field questions regarding why Arsenal, a club with significant appeal, was unable to complete a transfer for a desired forward. This comes despite a generally positive assessment of the club's overall transfer business by its football leadership team.
The squad itself is considered one of the strongest in Europe. The team's depth was evident in a recent win over Aston Villa, where the bench included nine full internationals, including two World Cup winners. Gabriel Jesus departed for Barcelona for £12.8 million, and though he was not a consistent starter due to fitness and selection issues, he still contributed six goals in 27 appearances across all competitions last season.
With players like Martinelli and Trossard no longer at the club, opportunities may arise for Eberechi Eze to feature more prominently on the left wing, a position where he previously excelled at Crystal Palace. Eze has demonstrated his capability in this role, including an impressive performance against Aston Villa earlier in the season.
Last season, Kai Havertz and striker option Mikel Merino both faced injury issues that disrupted their campaigns. However, both players have begun the current season fully fit. Despite these personnel concerns last season, which sometimes left Gyokeres as the sole option leading the line, questions about his long-term suitability for the role persist. Intriguingly, Gyokeres has not featured in the opening two Premier League matches of the current season.
Arsenal is currently viewed as an early-season favorite with the potential to defend its Premier League title. However, if the team encounters difficulties in scoring goals, criticism regarding the absence of a new, high-profile forward is likely to intensify.