Positives & negatives from Arsenal's final-day win at Southampton

Negative #1: Arsenal's striker problem isn't going away

Martinelli got 71 minutes before making way for an end-of-season Kai Havertz cameo, but the change made little difference. Arsenal still lacked a cutting edge too often, even against opposition that will play a division lower next season.

It's a problem that won't go away, not matter how long Arteta tries to avoid the issue. The manager has tried a swerve here and a swerve there by converting midfielders like Havertz and Mikel Merino into de facto No. 9s.

Martinelli is the latest conversion project, while fellow winger Leandro Trossard has even spent time as a false nine. Surely, the simpler solution is to merely buy a proper, for-reals striker.

Doing so has to be atop Arsenal's to-do list this summer, but the question is who will do the buying? Will it be Arteta or new Edu, Andrea Berta?

The answers to those questions will determine if Arsenal end up with Viktor Gyokeres or Benjamin Sesko. At this point, the choice doesn't matter as much as simply putting a proven and prolific actual striker into the lineup.

If it happens, Arteta won't waste the best creative player in his squad. He's not the only player Arsenal have become overly-reliant on for success in a key area.

Negative #2: Arsenal increasingly frail vs. set-pieces

Arsenal's increasing frailty defending set plays isn't going away. Not after Stewart easily rose above the crowd and attacked the ball decisively to beat David Raya.

The free header highlighted the immediate and rapid decline the Gunners have experienced resisting aerial deliveries without their most underrated player. Gabriel Magalhaes doesn't get hyped like fellow central defender William Saliba, but the Brazilian is arguably more important.

Gabriel was essential to Arsenal's success with set pieces at both ends of the pitch. Numbers from James Benge of CBS Sports help prove the point.

That's an uncomfortable level of reliance on one player for what's been the main attacking threat posed by Arteta's team for months and months. Arsenal need another focal point, both defensively and offensively, if set-pieces are going to remain a team strength.

Just like the Gunners need a new face or two in the creativity department.

Continued on the next slide...