Mikel Merino " data-image-caption="
Credit: Arsenal.com
" data-medium-file="https://gunnerstown.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IMG\_4119.jpeg" data-large-file="https://gunnerstown.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IMG\_4119.jpeg" class="size-full wp-image-49347" src="https://gunnerstown.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IMG\_4119.jpeg" alt="Mikel Merino" width="256" height="197" srcset="https://gunnerstown.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IMG\_4119.jpeg 256w, https://gunnerstown.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IMG\_4119-200x154.jpeg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px">
Credit: Arsenal.com
So many debates have been had about which striker would be better, ‘prospect’ and athletic monster Sesko or ‘ready now’ flat track bully Gyokores, but we all have that nagging concern, what if we don’t land either?
After all the club has previous for this kind of behaviour, most notably in the last two transfer windows. Our winter window, when injuries left us threadbare in attack was in some ways worse than last summer, because we knew we were struggling for goals, whereas in the summer we’d come off the back of a very good goalscoring season in 23/24 and the general consensus was the attack wasn’t the problem.
So now we find ourselves referring back to 23/24, because we hope to start the season with a fully fit and fresh Kai, plus the reinvigorated figures of Saka, Martinelli, Trossard and Odegaard. I admit, that when we can put out our best front four (whether you’re team Gabi or Leo is up to you) we are formidable in attack, but herein lies the issue. How often will we be able to start all four, and will they remain as effective?
Although our current left wing options are good, we have no genuine Saka replacement as Nwaneri is very young. We have no Odegaard analogue and Jesus will be out for several more months with his ACL injury. Merino, whilst effective when standing in for Havertz and Jesus, is not a striker.
Effectiveness
It’s very easy to forget how good coaching is these days. Harry Redknapp often starts tales of his time as manager set in his office discussing the horse racing with his staff. Those days are gone, with top level coaches spending their office time analysing opposition stats and watching videos to better prepare themselves for their next opponents. It is worth mentioning on this tangent that the British attitude to coaching may be a reason why there are so few elite British coaches in the Premier League.
It would be naïve not to consider that opposition coaches will spend time analysing the patterns between our front 4, their movement preferences, their strengths etc and coming up with ways to mitigate their effectiveness. We dropped points
in 18 of our 38 league games last season and although we fielded weakened teams in the league as we progressed in the Champions League, we only did so as the League was already out of reach. Obviously injuries and red cards played a massive part in that, but there were enough dropped points with our first choice front four to start considering that a plan B is required.
Havertz Red Card " data-image-caption data-medium-file="https://gunnerstown.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Havertz-Red-Card.jpg" data-large-file="https://gunnerstown.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Havertz-Red-Card.jpg" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-49370 lazyload" alt="Havertz Red Card" width="325" height="398" data-sizes="(max-width: 325px) 100vw, 325px" src="https://gunnerstown.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Havertz-Red-Card.jpg" srcset="https://gunnerstown.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Havertz-Red-Card.jpg 325w, https://gunnerstown.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Havertz-Red-Card-163x200.jpg 163w">
Availability
If it were guaranteed that we would retain perfect fitness all season, I would be confident of challenging on all fronts, however it is not, for three reasons.
Firstly, players fatigue and cannot be expected to play at their top level in every game. This means that even if not injured, sometimes they’ll need to be taken out of the firing line for some rest, both mentally and physically.
Secondly, every one of Kai, Gabi, Martin and Bukayo was injured for a decent period last season. There is absolutely no guarantee that that won’t happen again.
Thirdly, suspensions. If there’s one thing we’ve learnt over the last few years, it’s that we are refereed differently from other big clubs. We can all but guarantee that at least one of the four aforementioned players will face a suspension at some point next season, probably before a game against a title rival (or be sent off during a title clash game).
New Signings
For arguments sake let us assume that the Zubimendi signing is complete as Partey’s replacement and Damsgaard is done as Jorginho’s replacement. Whilst not being as slick as Partey, Zubi will progress the ball better and faster than Thomas (watch him play for Spain for a good barometer of his talent) and Damsgaard will provide excellent squad depth. This immediately makes us stronger, however our rivals are also about to get demonstrably stronger too.
In Liverpool’s case, Florian Wurtz will add dynamism to their attack. In City’s case, the return of Rodri immediately takes them back up to the formidable level we’re used to seeing. As it currently stands all three title challengers have gotten stronger. Our signings so far are yet to move us above our rival’s level.
Head-to-Head v Filthy Deep Block
Our record against the other ‘Big 6’ clubs since Arteta took over is outstanding. That’s not our problem. Our record against the likes of West Ham, Villa, Newcastle and Fulham is quite frankly shocking. We struggle for a number of reasons, complacency (West Ham and Fulham), physicality (Newcastte) and sheer motivation (Villa) but we also struggle against deep blocks and low chance conversion. We suffered so many draws and defeats last season where we had an XG of 4 and our opposition had an xG of 0.4. The answer here isn’t a better defence or more control, the answer is a better attack with more variation or freshness if Plan A isn’t working.
Cup Exits " data-image-caption data-medium-file="https://gunnerstown.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Cup-Exits-780x287.jpeg" data-large-file="https://gunnerstown.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Cup-Exits.jpeg" class="aligncenter wp-image-49371 lazyload" alt="Cup Exits" width="450" height="166" data-sizes="(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px" src="https://gunnerstown.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Cup-Exits-780x287.jpeg" srcset="https://gunnerstown.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Cup-Exits-780x287.jpeg 780w, https://gunnerstown.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Cup-Exits-200x74.jpeg 200w, https://gunnerstown.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Cup-Exits-768x283.jpeg 768w, https://gunnerstown.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Cup-Exits.jpeg 1179w">
Consider the difference between Gabi or Trossard. They play in very different ways and this allows us to tailor to the opposition, or in game allows to try something different. During a match, a genuine substitute for Saka could either give us an option for variance or at least present a fitter player against a tired full back. Zubimendi may be able to get the ball to Saka quickly, but if he’s tired he may not be able to burst past a defender and shoot.
Back to Refs
There are numerous examples of our goals being ruled out after VAR watched an incident in slow motion 15 times and finally recommends that the Ref watch it back, before he inevitably disallows it. We have relied on good refereeing decisions to our detriment over the last few years, which we simply don’t get. Decisions that seem to swing Liverpool or City’s way don’t swing ours. (The David Coote scandal demonstrated what we already know, which is that the referees have biases, take from that what you will). A more potent attack will reduce our reliance on good refereeing as we’ll need to score more irrefutable goals. Less scrambles in the box with the goal being ruled out because one angle shows that the ball may have touched an elbow (even when the other 8 don’t) and more screamers into the top corner that even Mike Dean couldn’t argue should have been ruled out.
Ref " data-image-caption data-medium-file="https://gunnerstown.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Ref-780x780.jpeg" data-large-file="https://gunnerstown.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Ref.jpeg" class="aligncenter wp-image-49372 lazyload" alt="Ref" width="450" height="450" data-sizes="(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px" src="https://gunnerstown.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Ref-780x780.jpeg" srcset="https://gunnerstown.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Ref-780x780.jpeg 780w, https://gunnerstown.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Ref-200x200.jpeg 200w, https://gunnerstown.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Ref-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://gunnerstown.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Ref.jpeg 1024w">
Me if I was a ref (I’d be good though).
In Conclusion
This may have come across a litle ‘doom and gloom’ but make no mistake, we are a very good team with the capability to challenge our rivals. Three consecutive 2nd place finishes should tell you that we’re heading the right way, we just need a little more to get to our destination. That ‘little more’ is a couple of forwards and i’m afraid to say that without them we won’t challenge for the two biggest trophies.
Both Liverpool and City will be at the level needed to win the them next season. We are two attackers away from not only being at the level, but raising it, significantly.
David Glicksman
I’m a lifelong Arsenal fan. I got my first kit at 3 years old and my dad put a nail in my wall and hung it there rather than in my wardrobe. Mum was furious.
Related