Arsenal’s final game of 2024, a 1-0 win over Ipswich Town, was a serious wake-up call to Mikel Arteta and those working alongside him ahead of the January transfer window.
Kai Havertz’s 12th goal of the campaign was the difference at the Emirates Stadium to keep the pressure on Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table. Whilst it was hardly a spectacle for the neutral, nor the most thrilling performance by the Gunners, they got the job done.
Yet the talking point following the win has been on how Arsenal will replace Bukayo Saka. The forward is facing a lengthy period on the sidelines after sustaining a hamstring injury last week against Crystal Palace, leaving Arteta seriously limited in his options in attack.
As the line-ups were announced on Friday night, there was not one attacker on the bench with Raheem Sterling also missing. Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard started the game but apart from that trio, they are short in that area.
Arsenal simply have to enter the January transfer market with the ambition to strengthen that position, especially considering they remain in the Premier League title race and don’t have the fierce competition from Manchester City.
Fortunately, the emergence and performance level of Myles Lewis-Skelly means there is very little need to focus any attention at left-back. Oleksandr Zinchenko and Riccardo Calafiori have both been out with injury this season and Jurrien Timber, who can play on the left, has played almost the entirety of the campaign covering Ben White at right-back.
