Both supporters and analysts have pointed to the Gunners' inability to bolster their forward line as a major reason why Mikel Arteta's team has fallen behind in the Premier League championship chase once more. Arteta's offensive options this season have been further restricted by injuries to Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, and Bukayo Saka. Arsenal hasn't had an all-around center-forward capable of scoring 30 goals a season since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The head coach of Arsenal acknowledged that preparations were on to bring in a potential solution forward in January, but the north Londoners made no additions by the transfer deadline. Ollie Watkins, a forward for Aston Villa and England who has previously talked about his "dream" of playing for the Gunners, was the target of a failed bid from Arsenal, according to many sources.