Arteta after an ace in acquisition Arsenal

From the moment that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang found himself frozen out at Arsenal, talk of the Gunners being in the market for another leading frontman was always going to be sparked. For as long as goals win games of football, somebody to put the ball in the net will forever be sought by those with a modicum of ambition.

A Premier League heavyweight in north London is setting lofty targets once more under the guidance of Mikel Areta, with bet on football markets making them 1/2 shots for a top-four finish this season, and it is vitally important that momentum is not allowed to stall as so many windows of opportunity begin to swing open.

There will be more challenges to come in the final third of the field, with Alexandre Lacazette seeing his contract run down as Eddie Nketiah also begins to dip a toe into a free-agent pool. If both were to depart at the end of the current campaign, with Aubameyang already out of sight and mind in Barcelona, then Arsenal will have lost three strikers in the space of six months.

Arsenal's last XI under Arsene Wenger:

Ospina ❌
Bellerin ❌
Mustafi ❌
Holding
Kolasinac ❌
Xhaka
Ramsey ❌
Iwobi ❌
Mkhitaryan ❌
Aubameyang ❌
Lacazette

Only 3 are currently at the club 👋 pic.twitter.com/0VhLslW0xP

— GOAL (@goal) February 1, 2022

Countering such an exodus will not be easy, or cheap. Goalscorers are the most sought-after and expensive commodities in the game and being left in a position where multiple additions are required in that department could be considered a touch foolish.

Arteta will, however, be aware that his task can be made considerably easier by collective efforts over the course of the next few weeks. Hit ultimate targets in the present and future goals will, quite literally, begin to take care of themselves.

Needs must

If Arsenal were to secure a return to Champions League competition for 2022-23 after enduring a five-year absence from an elite continental stage, then benefits to those at Emirates Stadium will be plentiful.

Returning to European football’s top table will see important funds added to the coffers, which can be invested in fresh faces, while the Gunners will also become a much more attractive proposition to potential new recruits.

It is that situation which will be giving Arteta both sleepless nights and cause for optimism as he leads a squad brimming with potential towards an important crossroads. The direction in which they are heading will have been determined by the middle of May.

If a fourth spot is secured, then talk of interest in the likes of Alexander Isak, Jonathan David and Dominic Calvert-Lewin will not seem fanciful. In fact, there would be every reason to believe that some of the most sought-after talents on the planet can be lured to north London. The other side of that coin does not bear thinking about for Arsenal supporters.

🎶 We’ve got super Mik Arteta 🎶 pic.twitter.com/O6vFIMj7Id

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 19, 2022

Arteta has worked hard to leave professional destiny in his own hands, with early questions of his suitability to the most demanding of coaching roles being fended off with major silverware still there to fall back on. He will be aware, though, that his cause can be given another welcome shot in the arm if an ace in a recruitment pack can be found that allows the Gunners to live up to their name and bolster a rather threadbare attacking arsenal.