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Mikel Arteta has built a good Arsenal side, but according to Graeme Souness, it is missing one key ingredient.
Arsenal under Mikel Arteta, has been transformed from also-rans to almost title challengers, having finished second twice under the Spaniard.
With the Gunners currently second in the league, six points behind Liverpool who have a game in hand, they have been a little up and down in front of goal. One could easily make the case had Kai Havertz had his shooting boots on this season, might be near the top of the Premier League Golden Boot charts.
But that has been Arsenal's biggest problem this season, aside from the thin squad and injuries, is the front line's ability to take the ample number of chances that the Gunners create.
It was why they were dumped out of both the Carabao Cup by Newcastle and the FA Cup by Manchester United - Arsenal put away its chances in those two games, it is into the Carabao Cup Final and the next round of the FA Cup.
Yet, Arteta's side's wastefulness was punished.
That brings us to the Premier League and the Gunners' chances of reeling in Arne Slot's Liverpool, who so far, have been superb barring a few wobbles, which Arsenal couldn't take advantage of.
As the Arsenal side is currently built, can it sustain a title challenge with Liverpool? For most, that's a no, and Liverpool legend Graeme Souness thinks he knows why.
The Gunners are missing one key ingredient.
"Mikel Arteta has built a really good team who are still a couple of top strikers away from challenging Liverpool to be the very best," Souness wrote in his Daily Mail column.
Well, duh. Right?
Arsenal's biggest problem this season has been consistently finishing the chances it creates and one could make the case, had Alexander Isak been leading the front line, the Gunners would be leading the Premier League at the time of writing.
In the two legs of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle, the Gunners were taught a lesson in proper center-forward play by Isak as he tormented both William Saliba and all the other Arsenal defenders.
That is what is missing and the thought was Benjamin Sesko might come in during January, but not a single soul walked through the doors.
One thing is for sure, in the summer, the Gunners need a proper striker, and while they might get close to the Premier League title, many, including Souness, believe that until a striker is signed, Arsenal will always continue to fall just short.