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Mikel Arteta cannot ignore simple Arsenal January transfer decision amid Gabriel Jesus revival

Gabriel Jesus has enjoyed somewhat of a rebirth in the week before Christmas.

Darts fans at Alexandra Palace have been going barmy every night since Sunday but a triple and a double from Jesus against Crystal Palace within four days has Arsenal supporters singing his praises.

However, many of them will hope this mini resurrection does not cause Mikel Arteta to miss the bullseye next month during the mid-season transfer window. Some may cry bar-humbug at the boss if a late Christmas present - in the form of a centre forward - does not arrive.

The Gunners are currently the third-highest scoring team in the Premier League following their 5-1 rout of Palace on Saturday evening, albeit leaders Liverpool, Chelsea (top scorers) and Tottenham (second top scorers) have all played fewer games.

Arsenal finished the last campaign with 91 league goals, only trumped by Manchester City’s 95, and decided against bringing in a new attacker over the summer. It is fair to suggest that this has already cost them at times this season, the goalless draw against Everton being one recent example.

Kai Havertz netted his 11th goal of the campaign against Palace but his last strike against a ‘big six’ club came against Tottenham Hotspur back in April. In fact, in 47 matches against such clubs, he has scored just six times.

Furthermore, the Gunners lost a striker this summer without a replacement. It was widely expected that Eddie Nketiah would leave given his bit-part role during the second half of last term.

But the club’s choice not to find reinforcements has left them with Jesus as the sole central back-up. Fortunately, Havertz has not missed a match for Arsenal through injury this season, which is perhaps one reason why the Gunners have managed to stay in the title race.

Because before this week, Jesus had scored just once in 20 appearances this season. His five goals in his past two outings mean his tally rises to six in 22 matches but that still leaves much to be desired.

Despite the resurgence of Jesus, there should be concern from Arteta that his two strikers have scored just a combined eight goals in 30 Premier League matches this time around. That is not the consistency that will lead the Gunners to the title.

January is an important month for Arsenal for several reasons but mainly due to the task of getting in a new attacker - especially with nine-goal Bukayo Saka now potentially out for a few weeks.

Arsenal's ability to produce a number of thrashings with current options should not blind Arteta from the reality that the club found itself in this same situation last season and still did not have enough to get over the line.

It’s the closer games that should be focused on, the tricky draws against the Evertons and Fulhams.

Arsenal only had a net spend of £17million this summer so ought to have some space within spending limits. Jesus may have just downed Palace five times in a week but that is far from a long-term solution to the current and obvious void in the attacking frontline.

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