Arsenal target Alexander Isak celebrates a Newcastle goal (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)
If ever there was a game that made it abundantly clear what Arsenal need to do in the transfer market between now and the end of the month, it was the one we witnessed last night against Newcastle.
On occasion, it was a game Arsenal should have won. Quite comfortable actually. But in the end it was one they lost with a bit of a whimper.
Why? Because Mikel Arteta’s wasteful side could have played for hours without scoring one of the many chances that fell to them during the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, while at the other end Newcastle – and Alexander Isak in particular – gave them a lesson to finish. .
Arsenal’s shock exit cannot be ruled out now!
Arteta lamented his team’s wastefulness after the 2-0 defeat. “If you look at what both teams produced, it’s not a result that reflects the history of the game. But the reality is that they were super efficient with the opportunities they had and we weren’t.”
The fact is, however, that this is nothing new. It’s the story of Arsenal’s season. Yes, they have scored a lot of goals and won big. But there have also now been 13 games in all competitions where they have scored just one goal in a game or failed to score at all. That’s 13 games out of 30, a little less than half.
This is not good enough and paints a clear picture of staff inefficiency. They clearly lack players with that killer instinct in front of the goal.
The transfer of Alexander Isak is precisely what Arsenal need
Newcastle have one in Isak. Arsenal don’t. It’s as simple as that. Isak showed everyone exactly what Arsenal are missing and it was impossible to ignore.
Opta’s stats showed that Arsenal closed the first leg of the semi-final with 3.12 expected goals, the highest figure recorded by a Premier League team this season in a game in which they have not managed to score
Simply put, if Arsenal had an Isak in their side last night, they’d have one foot in the final right now. Instead, they face a painful semi-final exit and more questions about why they haven’t done more to add to their attack.
The need for at least one new attacking option is clear to all and if they can’t find one in this January transfer window, it’s very hard to see them being able to go on and claim the silverware that the manager, players and supporters crave.
You have to be clinical when the big moments come in the big games. If you are not, you will end up with nothing.
Arsenal gambled big in the summer when they resisted the urge to spend money on their attack. When Benjamin Sesko told them no, they had plenty of time to look for other options. But they decided to keep their money and go back with what they already had, apart from the last-minute addition of Raheem Sterling on loan, of course.
It is a clearly counterproductive bet.
With three weeks of the January window still remaining, they have a chance to at least try to right the wrongs of the summer. If they don’t take that opportunity, it’s hard to see them doing enough to beat themselves in any of the competitions they still have their eyes on.
For my full column on the Daily Briefing, click here!
