Arsenal and Mikel Arteta pay the price for failing to address forward shortcomings

To make matters worse, Gabriel Jesus was stretchered off in the first half against Manchester United. His performance was by no means prolific, but at least he was more suitable in midfield.

Arteta admitted afterwards: “It was a big concern. He was in a lot of pain and had to come off on a stretcher. The concern was how he felt when he had to come off.”

Arsenal's attacking name has appeared more frequently at set-pieces this season, with coach Nicolas Joffe even painting his own mural outside the Emirates Stadium. Of Arsenal's 62 goals in all competitions, 20 (32%) have come from set pieces, including penalties. The mural was Jofer's reward.

“One factor is not putting the ball in the net,” Arteta said after the FA Cup exit.

He added: “The ball has to go into the net and then you have to hit the opponent. That's the reality.”

Former Arsenal and England striker Theo Walcott told BBC Sport: “As others have said before. Arsenal need a striker now because it will be a completely different story.”

“Arsenal have gone from being a free-flowing forward line, exciting the crowd, to getting a bit stale at the Emirates Stadium. You need players to do something different and they're not there yet.”

Micah Richards told Match of the Day: “The difference between Arsenal winning the league and winning these games is just a matter of centre-forwards.”

Arteta and Arsenal's needs have become even more urgent after his pessimistic announcement about Jesus, but solutions appear to be hard to come by in January.

Not only did Arsenal fail to push for a move for Cesco, but he has since signed a five-year contract with RB Leipzig, and Joe Kreis will be on the radar of Europe's elite if he enters the market. His former Sporting CP coach Ruben Amorim will surely be keen to reunite with him at Old Trafford.

Alexander Isak showed his talent when he tormented Arsenal on Tuesday and scored a goal at the Emirates Stadium, but he has no chance of starting at all. He is now worth significantly more than the £60m that brought him from Real Sociedad in August 2022. Newcastle fans will insist that fee be doubled.

Arteta may point out that Arsenal's 39 Premier League goals are just eight behind Liverpool. It's the same story with Chelsea, while only Tottenham Hotspur match Arne Slott's league-leading tally of 42 goals.

However, as Arsenal have discovered the past two seasons when they lost to Manchester City in the Premier League, it is a pursuit of trophies based on the best profit, and Arteta and his The team is finding out the hard way that they are paying a price.