Recruitment disappointing 

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Arsenal’s performance at the Etihad may have ended in defeat on Sunday, but it was the best the Gunners have played in the league in months – perhaps all year. The game finished 2-1 to Manchester City, leaving the Premier League title race firmly in Pep Guardiola’s team’s hands. However, Arsenal cannot be accused of not turning up. They showed more intent than they have in most of their recent matches and looked a far bigger threat and far more fluid with Kai Havertz up front and Eberechi Eze on the left.

It was the first time that Eze and captain Martin Ødegaard had played more than 60 minutes together in a match for Arsenal. It was the finishing that was the issue. Eze was desperately unlucky not to see his fine left foot effort go in off the post, whilst Havertz missed two glit-edged chances. At the other end, Jérémy Doku and Rayan Cherki dazzled at times, and Erling Haaland scored the winning goal. Antoine Semenyo had something off an off day but has in general been excellent in a Man City shirt since his January move. Across the season, Arsenal’s front three has lacked spark. With Bukayo Saka’s form dropping, they have no superstars in attack.

Arsenal’s front three options analysed

Right now, Mikel Arteta doesn’t have a player in his front three who can turn a game with a bit of magic. That means there must be question marks around some of their recruitment. It has been clear for sometime, that while Gabriel Martinelli is a potent substitute to have when the Gunners are winning a game, he is not good enough to be starting in a title-winning team. Leandro Trossard has been a fantastic servant for the club, but again probably isn’t quite at the level to be the first-choice left-winger. Viktor Gyökeres and Noni Madueke were brought in last summer for a combined €123 million, but do either make Arsenal’s best XI right now when everyone is fit? Probably not.

As illustrated in the graphic above, no Arsenal attacker has more than 20 goal contributions this season in all competitions. Martinelli has scored just once in the league, albeit an important equaliser against Man City at the Emirates earlier in the campaign. If we look at just goals and isolate it to Arsenal’s three most prolific forwards this term, Gyökeres (18), Martinelli (11) and Saka (9) combine for just 38 goals. If we then, as highlighted below, compare that to the Gunner’s most prolific attacking trios over the past 10 seasons, we can see that this term’s trio rank near the bottom.

In just three of the last 10 seasons have Arsenal had a lower combined number of goals from their most potent front three: 37 goals in 2017/18, 29 goals in 2021/22 and 37 goals last season. If we go back to the 2016/17 season, Arsenal’s front three of Alexis Sánchez (30), Theo Walcott (19) and Olivier Giroud (16) combined for as many as 65 goals. What Arteta would do to have a prime Sánchez on the left of his attack right now. Gyökeres’ numbers have been adequate, but with those goals, Arsenal have had to sacrifice having a striker who can link up play and hold the ball up. The numbers are still far from great – but how do they compare to Europe’s best trios this season?

Arsenal front three numbers compared to Europe’s best trios

Leading the way in terms of the most prolific attacking trios are Bayern Munich. Harry Kane (51), Luis Díaz (24) and Michael Olise (18) have racked up an almightily impressive 91 goals between them in all competitions this season. Well over double the total of Arsenal’s best attacking trio. At Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappé (40), Vinicius Junior (17) and Gonzalo García (6) have racked up 63 goals. Meanwhile, At El Clásico rivals Barcelona, Lamine Yamal (23), Ferran Torres (19) and Raphinha (19) have 61 goals between them.

Man City’s most prolific front three are sixth on the list (albeit carried by Haaland) with a total of 48 goals between Haaland (34), Semenyo (8) and Marmoush (6). If we then scroll down the list, Arsenal’s most prolific attacking trio are down in 13th. Now, this isn’t catastrophic, but it must also be considered that Arsenal have played a lot of games this season as they have gone deep into every competition, and these numbers highlight the lack of superstars in Arsenal’s attack. If they do fail to win a trophy yet again, it will largely lye at the door of their dysfunctional front three.