Even with their attack in red-hot form right now, Arsenal want to bolster their forward line this summer.

The Gunners have been scouting for central strikers and wingers ahead of what is shaping up to be a busy transfer window.

Arsenal are long-term admirers of Wolves winger Pedro Neto, while Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams is also on their radar.

The club’s interest in Ivan Toney is well documented, and he will be sold by Brentford this summer, but Arsenal have also sent scouts to watch RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko and Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres over the past six months.

At the turn of the year, it was easy to argue that Arsenal should be going all out to sign a new No9.

During a run of three defeats on the spin, they scored one goal from 61 shots. Club legend Ian Wright summarised their striking problems neatly on social media at the time, simply posting, “We need a killer”.

The mood at Emirates Stadium has shifted since then, as Arsenal’s attack has been reborn since the mid-season break.

Monday’s 6-0 thrashing of Sheffield United made it seven Premier League victories in a row, and during that run the Gunners have scored 31 goals.

Arsenal were without their main striker, Gabriel Jesus, for the majority of that run. Instead, Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard have excelled when called upon and gave strength to the argument Arsenal should look to sign a winger as opposed to a centre-forward.

In an ideal world, Arsenal would sign both this summer, but the club also wants to bring in a defender and midfielder. A new goalkeeper is likely to be needed, too, given Aaron Ramsdale will not settle for another season on the bench.

The Gunners were unable to spend big in January, as they were close to financial fair play limits. They recorded a loss of £52.1million for the 2022-23 campaign, but this season’s accounts should prove healthier as, among other factors, the club is back in the Champions League.

Arsenal can also boost their budget by selling. Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson are expected to attract interest this summer and, because they are homegrown players, they would represent pure profit.

The Gunners have wanted to sign a right winger since 2022, from when their interest in Neto began. Arsenal also bid for then-Leeds star Raphinha that summer, but Neto was their preferred target to replace Nicolas Pepe and provide competition to Bukayo Saka.

The position remains a key area for the club but, like Tottenham found with Harry Kane, it is hard to find a player of the necessary calibre to be a rival for Saka’s spot in the team. Given the way Arsenal’s attack is performing, the temptation would be to focus on signing a winger.

But the Gunners should be wary about letting their current form wipe away memories from earlier this season. A new No9 would give Arsenal a different option in attack — a ‘Plan B’ when things are not clicking.

A player in the mould of Gyokeres, Sesko and Toney could act as a target man for Arsenal and be a presence in the box. That would lead to questions about what happens with Jesus, but he can be used out wide, even acting as cover for Saka. Mikel Arteta knows all too well from his time at Manchester City it is possible to win the Premier League without a recognised No9, but he will have also seen how Pep Guardiola’s side has evolved since the arrival of Erling Haaland.

There is, of course, only one Haaland, but there is nothing to stop Arsenal signing a player of that ilk. Recent weeks have shown this side have multiple weapons in attack, but that should not stop them adding more this summer.