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A clash against Bayern Munich represents a fine test for this Arsenal side. How far have they come since last season's Champions League final?
While PSG were the opposition that day, Bayern are certainly one of the top contenders for Europe's top prize this season.
Away from home, the Gunners will likely rely on their defensive shape and organisation. Don't expect them to go for the jugular and take the game to Bayern. That's simply not what they do.
Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
However, they must improve in the final third. Despite scoring six times across their last three games, they have struggled in front of goal.
How they must wish they still had a certain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in their ranks.
Why Arsenal still miss Aubameyang
Aubameyang left Arsenal behind in extremely controversial circumstances.
Stripped of the captaincy after an unsanctioned trip, allegedly to visit family in Barcelona, the Gabon striker had simply had one too many misdeeds for Mikel Arteta's liking. He was reportedly late on multiple occasions, and his professionalism had been called into question.
That said, it's impossible to deny that Aubameyang is one of the best strikers Arsenal have had in the Emirates era. Robin van Persie aside, he is the best.
Not since Auba donned the famous red and white has anyone come close to replicating the numbers he put up.
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In 2018/19, he shared the Premier League Golden Boot after scoring 22 goals in 36 games. All told that campaign, the striker found the net on 31 occasions in 51 appearances.
He was a ruthless centre-forward, someone who loved scoring, someone who knew where the back of the net was.
Arsenal are now crying out for that. Since Auba left, they have not found a player on his level. In four of the six full seasons Arteta has been at the Emirates, his top scorer has failed to make it past 20.
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Is that because of the manager's tactics or the personnel? Arguably, it's both. Their track record when it comes to signing attacking players is hardly very good, while Arteta's preference for more structured and patient build-up play has not helped.
Arsenal may well have won the Premier League in 2025/26 but the football on display was not particularly awe-inspiring.
So, how can the Spaniard get his side firing again ahead of their trip to Munich?
Arsenal already have their modern Aubameyang
Over the summer, Arsenal explored the idea of signing Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid.
The Argentine was unhappy in the Spanish capital and with his 'dream' move to Barcelona slipping away, the Gunners spoke to both the player and Atleti. He ultimately stayed in Spain.
REUTERS/Thomas Peter
That was good news for both Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz but neither have taken their opportunity this term.
Havertz, in particular, is enduring a rough start to the season. The German has long been viewed as Arteta's most trusted centre-forward and that was clear last season.
He started the Carabao Cup and Champions League finals, as well as featuring from the start in their 1-0 defeat away at Manchester City. For the big moment, Arteta relies on the former Chelsea man.
You can see why. He knits play together well, his hold-up play is exceptional and he's one of the most intelligent players in the team. Yet, the fact of the matter is that he hasn't scored enough goals.
Speaking last week, Arteta revealed that he was a "big believer" that Havertz could score 25 goals a season. Well, we beg to differ.
Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
So far this term, the 27-year-old has just three goals to his name. His display against Nottingham Forest last weekend was particularly poor. He had two shots but trudged off the pitch after the hour mark with fewer touches than even goalkeeper David Raya.
Now, as Gyokeres will testify, the number of touches doesn't make you a better striker. Putting the ball in the back of the net does and that's where the Swede reigns supreme.
Since arriving from Sporting in the summer of 2025, he has been a scapegoat. It's a puzzling situation. Last term he became the first player since Aubameyang to score 21 goals or more in a single season under Arteta. That has to mean something, right?
He was the club's top scorer as they won the Premier League for the first time in 22 years.
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Alas, his overall play leaves much to be desired. The ball bounces off him like a trampoline; he's incapable of holding play up and, disappointingly, Arsenal do not cater to his strengths.
Gyokeres thrives on chaos; he thrives on the ball in behind. He loves a quick pass into the penalty box. Unfortunately, he does not get that.
That was clear against Lille last week. Myles Lewis-Skelly got the ball in the left channel and could have played a simple pass across the box for the striker to tap in from a matter of yards out. Instead, the youngster pulled the ball back towards the penalty spot, ignoring Gyokeres.
That has happened too much, notably this season. Against the low blocks Arsenal often encounter, he does not look well equipped to deal with that challenge. He can't find the room to run in behind and he looks isolated up against several defenders inside the box.
You can say what you like about his inability to find the ball. Last term, the only out-and-out forwards at the club who had fewer touches inside the penalty box per 90 minutes in the Premier League were Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.
In all, he had the fewest touches of any player in the entire squad per 90 last season with just 26.43. That was 12 fewer than Raya.
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However, Arsenal simply have to find a way to get him involved more. After all, he is their best striker since Aubameyang. The volume of goals and the ruthlessness with which he finds the net when he does actually get space say it all.
With Havertz out form, it's time for Gyokeres to get a run of games again. What's the worst that can happen?
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