Arsenal's final game of 2024, a 1-0 win over Ipswich Town, was a serious wake-up call to Mikel Arteta and those working alongside him ahead of the January transfer window.

Kai Havertz's 12th goal of the campaign was the difference at the Emirates Stadium to keep the pressure on Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table. Whilst it was hardly a spectacle for the neutral, nor the most thrilling performance by the Gunners, they got the job done.

Yet the talking point following the win has been on how Arsenal will replace Bukayo Saka. The forward is facing a lengthy period on the sidelines after sustaining a hamstring injury last week against Crystal Palace, leaving Arteta seriously limited in his options in attack.

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As the line-ups were announced on Friday night, there was not one attacker on the bench with Raheem Sterling also missing. Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard started the game but apart from that trio, they are short in that area.

Arsenal simply have to enter the January transfer market with the ambition to strengthen that position, especially considering they remain in the Premier League title race and don't have the fierce competition from Manchester City.

Fortunately, the emergence and performance level of Myles Lewis-Skelly means there is very little need to focus any attention at left-back. Oleksandr Zinchenko and Riccardo Calafiori have both been out with injury this season and Jurrien Timber, who can play on the left, has played almost the entirety of the campaign covering Ben White at right-back.

Calafiori, Zinchenko, Jakub Kiwior and Kieran Tierney, all have played left-back under Arteta, were left on the bench in place of Lewis-Skelly. Between them four are 271 appearances, compared to the youngster's five.

After making his professional debut in the 2-2 draw with Manchester City in September at 17 years 11 months and 27 days, Lewis-Skelly has made the jump from academy to first-team with a further 10 appearances. Injuries at left-back means he has started the last three Premier League games as well as being the Gunners' starting left-back in the EFL Cup.

"He is a special character," Arteta said to Amazon Prime. "He is well ahead of his age and then he has qualities where he adapts to the way that we are playing. Credit to him."

Against Ipswich, Lewis-Skelly impressed. He won nine of his 12 duels and completed 98% of his 59 passes while losing possession on just four occasions. "He can go to the top, this kid is just special, very special," Declan Rice said in a complimentary interview after the game.

"For an 18-year-old to be that good, that comfortable, that strong - it was like he was built in a lab! I just said to him the other day, it's just ridiculous how good he is, but he has a long way to go. He's level-headed, he's got a great family around him, I know his mum looks after him really well and all the boys at the training ground do too.

"We have a really good crop of youngsters coming through and he can be what he wants to be, he just needs to stay focused and always want more and he can do that."

Doubts over Zinchenko's ability to defend at the top level and Calafiori, naturally, better suited at centre-back means Lewis-Skelly emergence has come at the perfect time. Unlike previous windows, a new left-back isn't considered a priority.