Acquire a forward, secure a replacement for Bukayo Saka, and address discipline concerns – What areas should Arsenal focus on enhancing for the upcoming season?

Arsenal’s season came to a crushing end on Wednesday night after falling to a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg. Despite Mikel Arteta’s assertion that Arsenal were the “better team,” it is the Ligue 1 champions who will face Inter Milan in the final in Germany at the end of the month.

This latest setback means that The Gunners have now gone five years without a trophy under head coach Mikel Arteta, despite the Spaniard transforming the club into genuine Premier League title contenders over the last three campaigns. Arsenal now find themselves in danger of becoming the “nearly club,” but they are not too far from making that crucial step towards lifting silverware.

So, what do they need to finally get over the line? With the help of our friends at Opta, we take a look at where the club needs to make improvements this summer to end their trophy drought.

One glaring need is for Arsenal to sign a striker. Supporters have been clamouring for a new forward since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s departure in 2022. This season, the issue has become even more pressing, especially after the club opted not to sign a centre-forward during the January transfer window. This decision proved costly, particularly after Bukayo Saka suffered a hamstring injury in December and Gabriel Jesus sustained an ACL tear shortly thereafter.

Lucy Ward, speaking on TNT Sports’ The Breakdown: Premier League Special, expressed her frustration: “I think it’s just an astronomical failure that they haven’t got someone who puts the ball in the back of the net. They’ve jeopardised the title, and it just looks careless.”

The failure to secure a striker has undoubtedly hindered Arsenal’s ability to keep pace with newly crowned champions Liverpool. Since the transfer window closed on February 3, the north London outfit has managed to score only 15 goals in the league, while Liverpool racked up 25 goals during the same period.

The lack of a clinical edge was evident in both legs against PSG, where Arsenal managed just one goal over 180 minutes. Gianluigi Donnarumma deserves credit for his top-class saves, but Arsenal great Martin Keown believes a goalscorer could have made the difference. “It was just in that final third where you needed a fox in the box,” he said. “There were times when PSG were counter-attacking, but Arsenal didn’t have the same weapons to hurt them with.”

Another area of concern is the need for adequate backup to Saka. With the burden of scoring and creating goals falling heavily on the England international, his impressive tally of 12 goals and 13 assists this season highlights his importance. However, the physical toll was evident when he suffered a hamstring injury during a match against Crystal Palace.

Eighteen-year-old Ethan Nwaneri has shown promise this season, but he has not seen much game time recently. His performance in the Premier League has impressed pundits, with both Keown and Joe Cole praising his abilities. “He’s a strong little thing,” Cole remarked. “These touches he produces in and around the box, I don’t want to say it, but it’s like Messi.”

Arsenal may also need to consider competition for Gabriel Martinelli. While he has provided excellent service on the left flank, his output needs to improve. Despite scoring a fine goal against Real Madrid, Martinelli’s season has been marred by key misses in the semi-final against PSG. Comparisons with other players in similar positions reveal that his stats fall short, raising questions about whether Arsenal could benefit from another addition to bolster their attacking options.

Furthermore, the Gunners must ease the burden on Martin Ødegaard. The captain expressed his disappointment after the defeat to PSG, acknowledging the need for improvement in front of goal. Ødegaard has struggled with form this season, particularly after an ankle injury, and Arsenal will need him firing on all cylinders if they are to end their trophy drought.

Discipline has also been a significant issue for Arsenal this season. The Gunners have received five red cards in the Premier League, the joint highest alongside Ipswich Town. This lack of discipline has cost them crucial points in the title race, and with Arteta at the helm, Arsenal has accumulated the most red cards in the league during his tenure.

As Arsenal look to rebuild and strengthen their squad this summer, addressing these key areas will be vital if they are to finally lift silverware and avoid the label of the “nearly club.”