The Arsenal team’s defeat over Fulham was not one of those occasions when things didn’t go as expected. In a match that could have propelled them to the top of the standings (before Liverpool faced Newcastle), Arteta and the guys were dealt a blow in their pursuit of the Premier League title, losing 2-1 to Fulham.
Arsenal’s defeat has reduced them to fourth position, where they are now tied with Manchester City, who have played one less game, and five points behind League leaders Liverpool and a resurgent Aston Villa.
Arsenal, who has only gained one point from its last three league games, finds itself in a challenging scenario.
The Gunners’ incapacity to score goals when they should has been one of their most obvious issues. Arsenal have dominated games and shown incredible control, but they haven’t been able to turn opportunities into goals.
They have lost valuable points and the chance to maintain an edge in important games as a result of this issue.
With the January transfer market open, Mikel Arteta and Edu are the centre of attention. If Arsenal has a good winter transfer window, they might be able to forget about their previous problems and continue to chase the crown.
It is imperative to bring in a creative midfielder, a prolific striker, and a flexible fullback.
They need to add a top goal scorer like Ivan Toney, who can find the back of the net on a regular basis and lessen the pressure on their current offensive options, to boost their efficacy in front of goal.
Arsenal’s great build-up strategy could be lacking a goal-scoring instinct and clinical finisher to translate it into tangible results.
A master midfielder who can control the pace of play, penetrate opposition defense and provide both attacking and defensive support is what the Gunners need.
Apart from Declan Rice, Arsenal will have another midfield option to change their approach when they feel it isn’t working. Having a different option to mix things up could be helpful because a midfield consisting of Havertz, Odegaard, and Rice could get monotonous.
Given that White and Zinchenko won’t have a reliable backup until Tomiyasu departs for the Asian Games, a versatile fullback would be a useful addition.
It is clear that Arteta has a strategic opportunity to address the numerous issues his squad has faced and prepare his group for the next challenges during the January transfer window.
If the Gunners are successful in this transfer window, I think they will regain momentum in the second part of the season and develop a serious title challenge. That could have a favorable effect on their season, along with a few tactical adjustments to prevent the predictability of which they have been accused.