Arsenal wanting and needing to sign a forward is not a new talking point. The Gunners brought in Raheem Sterling on deadline day in the summer, having been linked with the likes of Alexander Isak, Nico Williams, Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko.

Those names are once again in the frame to arrive at the Emirates Stadium in the January transfer window, with Arsenal still in major need of a frontman.

The Gunners have only actually been outscored by two teams in the Premier League this season - Liverpool and Tottenham - but their top scorer is Kai Havertz on seven goals. The goals have been shared around and when they have been in desperate need of a goal, they do not have someone prolific to fire them in.

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Their striking need has been further heightened by injuries to Bukayo Saka and now Gabriel Jesus too, who had just found form in front of goal following a slow start to the season.

Mikel Arteta's men were knocked out of the FA Cup at the first time of asking on Sunday as they lost to holders Manchester United following a penalty shootout.

That cup defeat came just days after the Gunners were also beaten 2-0 by Newcastle in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final. It looks as if they Champions League is the only realistic chance of winning a trophy, given their six-point gap to Liverpool in the Premier League standings - which could stretch to nine points if Arne Slot's side win their game in hand.

Those two defeats only served to highlight the big issue Arteta and Arsenal have. Against the Magpies in the Carabao Cup clash, Arsenal recorded an xG (Expected Goals) of 3.76. They failed to score in the match.

Then, against United in the FA Cup, the Gunners recorded an xG of 3.87 after extra-time, scoring just once. Those numbers suggest Arsenal were expected to score more than seven goals across the two matches and only put the ball in the back of the net once.

For all the headlines Arsenal have made in scoring goals from corners this season, they are actually hugely underperforming from those set-pieces in the Premier League. The Gunners have scored nine goals from corners this season, but according to Understat their xG stands at 14.09.

Havertz should have scored 9.48 goals according to Understat's xG stats, meaning he has left almost two-and-a-half goals on the pitch so far this season.

A new striker signing in January is surely the club's top priority, with the likes of Isak, Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen and others likely to cost anywhere up to and more than £100million. Arteta faces a big phone call with owner Stan Kroenke.