Arsenal face season-defining January transfer window task

No supporter can have any complaints over the scoreline on Thursday. Aside from the opening 20 minutes, Liverpool were more than worthy of their 2-0 win over Arsenal.

Hitting the crossbar from Alexandre Lacazette’s free-kick was as close as the hosts came. Energy levels sapped, belief waned and Liverpool rallied. The gulf in class became apparent. But the gulf in squad depth stood out.

Nothing exemplified the issues within Mikel Arteta’s group than Thomas Partey coming on for 15 minutes at the end despite landing in the country but eight hours prior, just 48 hours after he was slumped to the floor at the Roumdé Adjia Stadium as his Ghana side were eliminated from AFCON.

In his stead Arteta had fielded Martin Odegaard in a deeper role to partner Sambi Lokonga. A mere glance at the teamsheet and seeing a trio of Sambi, Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe is enough reason to be concerned. While fine individual players, they are not an effective midfield trio.

Arsenal face season-defining transfer task with 10 days of January window left to sign a striker and a central midfielder

Arsenal’s issues with depth forced this team. Other than moving a defender into midfield, Arteta’s hands were tied.

Sambi showed bravery on the night, being aggressive without the ball and daring in possession. While he picked out a couple of lovely passes and grew into the match after the break, it’s clear he has areas to develop. These are areas, however, he can’t develop effectively when he’s being asked so much of as the sole recognised player of his ilk.

When Xhaka and Partey return from their suspensions they can reforge their strong partnership. But that is not enough. Players fatigue, players get ill and players get injured. Whether it’s only the Premier League left to play or not, Arsenal need reinforcements. Ainsley Maitland-Niles has not been replaced and the drop off from Partey to Sambi, and Xhaka to Elneny is a step down that Arsenal can ill-afford.

It is at centre-forward where additions can have a transformative impact.

Playing as brilliantly as he has since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang‘s banishment – which in itself forces the hand this window – due to the circumstances and his general likability, there is the risk of going too overboard in the appraisal of Lacazette. He’s galvanised the group, led with pride, and connected the dots.

He has been effective, not elevating.

Spurning the chance he did after the break, amid all the talk of Dusan Vlahovic it was hard not to picture the towering Serbian in that position and whether or not he’d have had the net rippling. Quite possibly he would have.

Of equal importance is the unavoidable topic of fitness. While Lacazette has improved markedly in that department over the campaign, it remains an issue. His endeavour and fight never wanes, it is his energy that fizzles out. The crowd try their best to encourage him to press in the 70th minute, but it often feels like swapping the same batteries around in a TV remote. As much as you commend the effort there is no juice left in the tank.

Arsenal could achieve top four with Lacazette leading the line for the remainder of the season. They could. But ‘could’ is on the border of achievable. It will not suffice. For the sake of their reputation as much as anything, Arsenal can’t afford another season without Champions League football.

Signing another midfielder and a striker will increase their chances. They have ten days left.