BREAKING NEWS: “Arsenal have surpassed Manchester City and Liverpool in the battle to sign the £80m striker who netted 50 goals across all competitions last season! Arteta has green-lighted this as Arsenal’s first January signing.”

Reflecting on January, Arsenal’s need for a reliable center-forward was undeniable. The absence of a dependable striker during the festive period may have ultimately cost them the Premier League title. A glaring example came in December when Arsenal faced West Ham.

Despite dominating the match with 30 attempts on goal, they failed to convert their chances and suffered a disappointing loss. This performance highlighted their struggle to finish opportunities effectively during that critical phase of the season.

However, Arsenal’s fortunes changed in the latter half of the campaign as they battled Manchester City for the league title. In the return fixture against West Ham, Arsenal showcased their improved attacking prowess, scoring six goals.

While they fell short in the title race, finishing as runners-up, they ended the season as the league’s second-highest scorers, with an impressive tally of 91 goals.

This remarkable turnaround raises the question: does Arsenal still need to invest in a new striker? While the urgency may have diminished, recent transfer activity indicates that the club is still exploring attacking reinforcements. Reports suggest exciting developments in Arsenal’s pursuit of a forward.

Initially, it seemed likely that Slovenian striker Benjamin Šeško would join the Gunners this summer.

The RB Leipzig forward’s release clause was considered manageable, and Arsenal appeared ready to activate it to secure the player. However, Šeško is now set to remain in Germany, with a new contract at Leipzig on the horizon.

With Šeško out of reach, Arsenal has shifted their attention to Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres. The Sporting forward has been on Arsenal’s radar for some time, but the club has recently intensified its pursuit of him. According to reports, Gyökeres is “on the verge” of signing with Arsenal, suggesting that the deal is close to completion.

If Arsenal can secure Gyökeres, he could add valuable depth and quality to their attacking options.

While their goal-scoring improved significantly in the latter part of the season, acquiring a forward of Gyökeres’ caliber could further strengthen their squad as they aim to challenge for major honors in the upcoming campaign.