Arteta needs a 'can opener' to cure misfiring Gunners

Mikel Arteta is aware that Arsenal need more “explosiveness” in attack, and his staff are looking to rectify this in the January transfer window, although much of this would have been clear to see before Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle United.

- MIGUEL DELANEY

Alexander Isak, who has so frequently been linked with the London club, was the clear difference. It was hard not to think that Arsenal would be halfway to the Carabao Cup final and probably much closer to Liverpool in the league if they had the Swede in the team or anyone like him.

There are admittedly few like Isak right now but that emphasises the point. Arsenal could just do with something.

This was another match, to go with an entire season, where they felt the consequences of a thin attack. It’s also hard not to link that, and a lot of the discussion around it, to some of the angst that afflicted the team in missing so many chances against the Magpies.

Some perspective is required, nevertheless.

Arsenal’s performance was, on the whole, quite good. It wasn’t the problem of many recent games, where the xG has been low and they have barely created any chances. The display was instead much closer to the best Arsenal of the last three seasons, where they attack the opposition from all angles. For all the doom-mongering and criticism, the project is on course.

They’re still second in the table and within touching distance of the top, with the Champions League looking good. Arteta has made Arsenal one of the best teams in Europe again. It’s also true that this season has been afflicted by a series of different issues, from injuries to other absences, even if some are selfinflicted.

Those problems have nevertheless exposed some remaining issues with the finishing, and the final steps in this teambuilding.