There's been millions of column inches devoted in the press, message boards and fanzines to the issue of Arsenal's defence and goalkeeping but precious little on the business end of the pitch, up front. Looking back at the last five/six trophyless years for Arsenal, top goalscorers are the obvious difference from the sides that have won the pots.

In 2005 and 2006, Chelsea had Lampard and Drogba, and then in the United years of 2007, 2008 and 2009 you had Rooney, Ronaldo and Tevez. In 2010 and 2011 and we see Drogba and Anelka leading the way with one picking up the goalscoring challenge should the other be out injured or off form and Lampard again banging in his 20 goals a season. Indeed, if you look at the winners’ closest challengers in those years you see first us in 2005 with Henry at 30 goals, you then see Drogba and Lampard always there or thereabouts in United's years and even Torres briefly in 2009 and Adebayor in 2008. You can also see how challenges falter when the chief goalscorer fades or is injured as with Rooney last year, us with Adebayor in 2008 and arguably with Cesc and Van Persie in 2010.

What then of Arsenal over this period? Has Arsene been idle, at fault in his picks or just unlucky? Well in 2005 we had Henry and much hope for Reyes and Van Persie and whilst both the latter faltered we did run close. In 2006 we suffered badly until Henry's return post Xmas and he singlehandedly dragged us to fourth and to a CL final but it’s interesting to note Wenger rush bought Adebayor and Walcott in January that year. In 2007 we cruelly lost Van Persie again and Henry at the business end and had the unedifying sight of Baptista leading the line in key CL knockout games. As for 2008, we know all too well how we again lost Van Persie and then Henry's replacement Eduardo at a time when silverware seemed surely to be bound our way. To 2009 and again Van Persie fell injured and with Eduardo still absent we were exposed to the fickle attitude of Adebayor until Wenger (pushed or panicked) plucked Arshavin from Russia and saved our season.

2010 started with a bang, 100 goals seemed certain until Van Persie again went down and then with Eduardo still broken and the young trialists Walcott, Bendtner and Vela either not consistently up to the task or injured we ended up with the equally unedifying sight of Arshavin leading the line at Chelsea, of all places. So to 2011. Again Van Persie has put his foot where he shouldn't and the trialist heirs of Walcott, Bendtner and Vela flatter to deceive. So once again all seemingly rests on one, Chamakh and so too, for now, do Arsenal's hopes of silverware.

It’s interesting to note how Citeh, with a new mean defence, are now carried singlehandedly by Tevez to second place and how a leaky United are made to pay for Rooney's absence from the scoresheet with a profilgate Berbatov still in their ranks. So for me, it’s about the goalscorers and until Arsenal get a 50 goals a year pair of players, one of whom will still be there and in form in May, we'll likely remain trophyless. In Arsene's defence, I think he is acutely aware of this issue and devotes the vast majority of his transfer activity at that end of the pitch but in picking talent over proven ability he risks the failures/falterers that now plague him. It’s noticeable how the names dominating the lists (Drogba, Anelka, Tevez, Rooney, Ronaldo) all came/come at a price.

So will Arsene change his ways in January or June and buy a Rooney or Torres? Well, whilst many would say not, I think he may decide now’s the time to take a gamble and go for a "top, top player".