Arsenal were embarrassingly eliminated from the Carabao Cup by League Two side Fleetwood Town, with the Gunners' attack facing harsh criticism in the aftermath. The reigning Premier League champions managed just five shots on target and scored only once at Highbury.
Their sole goal came in fortunate circumstances as the ball bobbled towards Swedish forward Viktor Gyokeres in the penalty area, hit him, and rolled over the line. The strike was a relief for the former Sporting man as he opened his goalscoring account for the season at his 11th attempt, having scored 21 goals in all competitions during a mixed debut campaign at the Emirates.
Gyokeres and Havertz Struggles
Gyokeres has looked off the pace this term, with an expected goals count of just 0.08 in the Premier League from one shot. He has made just one league start, and in the games he has started - against Ipswich and Fleetwood in the Carabao Cup - he has struggled to impose himself.
Former Arsenal star Emmanuel Petit said recently: "Gyokeres knows that he's not the first priority and it will be difficult for him to play in some very important matches. We can see that he's lost confidence and we don't know what his future will be at Arsenal and the club looked at strikers in the transfer market and for me, that was a clear message to Gyokeres that he's not welcome anymore."
Kai Havertz is also having his own struggles, having had seven shots against Fleetwood without looking like scoring. He has scored three times this season against Coventry, Chelsea, and Manchester City in the Community Shield, but he missed the vast majority of last season with injuries, making just 12 starts in all competitions.
Missed Transfer Opportunity
Arsenal have coped with goals from elsewhere, with Gabriel chipping in from set pieces and midfielders Mikel Merino, Declan Rice, and Bruno Guimaraes scoring, while Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and Eberechi Eze are capable of finding the net. However, when they don't, Arsenal are in trouble.
The Gunners need a reliable centre-forward, and Julian Alvarez looked to be the man after being strongly linked with a move to the Emirates in the summer. However, Arsenal failed to convince the Argentine forward, and he stayed with Atletico Madrid. In the meantime, Gabriel Jesus left for Barcelona.
The decision to stick with Havertz and Gyokeres and move Jesus on now looks like a mistake, as does the decision not to sign a more conventional centre-forward. Arsenal now face a dilemma over whether to move for a striker in January, a more difficult and costly window, or wait for the summer. That period gives Havertz and Gyokeres time to rediscover their best form, but it also allows their indifferent form to extend or for them to pick up injuries. Arteta needs to find a solution soon or he could be watching more displays like the one at Fleetwood.
