Arsenal must make an attacking signing in a January transfer window that could define their season, writes ISAAN KHAN
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New year, same old problems for Arsenal. The January transfer window closes four weeks from today; you can assume the hotline of interim sporting director Jason Ayto, this morning, will be busy indeed. On the evidence of Saturday, a lack of creativity in the final third and goalscoring options up front are issues that will rear their heads again and again going forward this season, just as they have done for months — unless an attacking signing is made in January.
![[Bukayo Saka missed the game through a long-term injury which will keep him out for months]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/05/14/93754215-14251933-image-m-32_1736085654193.jpg)
Yes, a club which got through the absence of Martin Odegaard across September and October are dealing with the aftershocks of Bukayo Saka’s hamstring injury and his plentiful supply of goals and assists. Every club across the Premier League, bar Liverpool maybe, would lament the loss of Saka if he were in their side. That, though, masks the wider problems at play here.
![[The Gunners failed to make a significant indent on Liverpool's lead at the top of the table]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/05/14/93754225-14251933-image-m-33_1736085668216.jpg)
Aside from the incisive forays of promising 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who put the Gunners ahead against Brighton, there was a stodginess in the midfield — typified by Mikel Merino — and a lack of spark in the front three. Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw with Brighton on Saturday night, despite taking an early lead.
![[Arsenal dropped points for the third time in six league games with their 1-1 draw with Brighton]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/05/14/93754349-14251933-image-m-35_1736085741110.jpg)
Bukayo Saka missed the game through a long-term injury which will keep him out for months. The Gunners failed to make a significant indent on Liverpool's lead at the top of the table. Compare the starting attacking triumvirate of Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus and Nwaneri against Liverpool’s Mo Salah, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo, and the difference in goals and threat is abundantly stark.
![[Mikel Arteta's side have scored five goals in their four games without Saka this season (1.25 goals per game), compared to 34 goals in the 16 games he has played (2.1 goals per game)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/05/14/93754365-14251933-image-m-37_1736085845683.jpg)
