Two completely different games, with two completely different outcomes, but both fixtures against Benfica and Manchester City summed up the big problem that Arsenal have at the moment and in fact have had all season.

In both games combined, the Gunners could only muster three shots on target, scoring one goal, underlining their poor record in front of goal and while Mikel Arteta has done wonders in making Arsenal more defensively stable (currently the joint third best defence in the league), his attack including star man Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have struggled to replicate similar form.

It was a case of what ifs against Benfica where Arsenal could have well and truly won the tie on the night last Thursday and even against Man City where despite the lacklustre start to the game, they could have easily come away with a point, if not more, but just seemed to lack the composure and conviction in front of goal to make their chances and positive play count.

Aubameyang received criticism for a number of chances he would usually put away with his eyes shut in the Europa League Round of 32 1^stLeg and it has to be said his drought in the way of goals this season has played its part in the club’s overall lack of scoring.

The Gabon forward managed 29 goals in all competitions last season, but so far this season he is only on eleven, with fellow striker Alexandre Lacazette on ten goals.

Aubameyang hasn’t looked his usual self, even at the start of the season, not looking as ruthless as he once was. Last season he missed 13 big chances and has already missed six this term, but of course isn’t scoring as much to make up for it.

Arsenal’s build up play has really improved game by game, but once they get into the final third, the conviction levels just seem to drop. Aubameyang has struggled with this and though people may point to the fact he is playing more minutes from the left, it is from that position that he has produced his best form in red and white, especially under Unai Emery.

Earlier in the season the main problem was creativity and so it is natural to assume that you’ll score less goals. However, since the turn of the year, the side have been boosted in midfield by the fine form of Saka and his fellow Hale End graduate, Emile Smith-Rowe, who have been creating chances left, right and centre, aided by new signing Martin Ødegaard who has shown promise in his cameos, linking up play well, finding neat pockets of space to pass into.

At the back end of last year and the start of this year, Lacazette had been thriving off this, scoring five goals in a month and posing a real threat in the box, but as Arsenal’s form started to dip, so did his, with Arsenal currently being outscored by ten teams in the league.

One of the main issues isn’t the quality of personal.

Aubameyang is arguably one of Europe’s best forwards, Lacazette is a big game player, Eddie Nketiah has an impressive goal to minute ratio scoring five in 770 minutes, while Gabriel Martinelli has bundles of energy and has a fierce eye for the back of the net.

However, it feels like at times Arsenal don’t really have an out and out No9. Martinelli and Aubameyang are both players who like to drive and cut in from the wing, often drifting wide during a game, which even Nketiah has a tendency to do sometimes. Lacazette is probably the closest Arsenal have, but he often likes to come deep to collect the ball, playing almost like a No10 or even as a False 9.

Therefore, it may be a case that finding a player who fits more of a traditional out and out centre-forward role and who will be prepared to stay there, is the possible solution to this problem.

Finding a quality striker in this market, with the potential of no European football will be a difficult ask. But Lacazette’s contract will of course be expiring soon, which could be one way to make up the money.

Another option could be to do what has worked all season long and dip into the talent within the club at youth level.

Folarin Balogun would definitely fit the mould and has a proven track record for scoring goals with seven in 14 appearances in the PL2 and two in four in the Europa League this season.

Contract talks with the 19 year old have stalled for a while and this potential breakthrough into the first team could convince him to stay, while solving Arteta’s dilemma in attack.

Slowly but surely Arsenal are improving in each department, but Arteta can’t rest on his morals over the severe lack of goals which are most definitely a cause of concern which needs addressing.

If something can be done to up confidence in his current attackers or even in the transfer market in the form of a new striker, then Arsenal will be on their way to getting back to where they want to be.

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