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Arsenal has lacked a quality goal-scorer since January, with the club bowing out of the title race as a result.
There are many factors that fans and media alike can point to as a reason why Arsenal is in the position it is in regarding the Premier League title race, sitting 12 points behind Liverpool with just nine games remaining.
Having been neck and neck with Liverpool, the vast array of injuries to attacking players Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel Martinelli has meant that Mikel Arteta was forced to get really creative in how he deployed his attacking players.
As such, Mikel Merino is now the default striker and while the Spaniard has been serviceable, it isn't the answer to the Gunners' attacking woes, although it has been fun to see the midfielder do his thing up front.
Given that the club is essentially out of the title race with Liverpool 12 points ahead with only nine games left, Arne Slot's side hold a huge advantage over an Arsenal team that has basically shot itself in the foot.
The need for a new striker was evident last summer and yet no one came in to help ease the workload, and now, we are seeing what happens when you don't invest in the squad.
Arsenal's title failure down to lack of forward options?
That is the low-hanging fruit on this tree and for most it is true. With the Gunners needing to pick up points they had found themselves dominating games but due to no genuine forward threat, the breakthrough couldn't come.
Draws against Brighton, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Nottingham Forest, the loss to West Ham all could have been won had the Gunners had a proper goal-scorer to tuck away the chances created.
For arguments sake, that is 15 points the Gunners have left out on the field, and looking at Liverpool's 12-point lead, Arsenal could be leading the title race.
Yes, it is a hypothetical that the Gunners could win all of the games mentioned above, but there is a real chance they could have as well.
And that leads to the thought that if the Gunners had a real striker in their ranks, maybe the league title might be coming to north London this season.