Mikel Arteta has two questions Arsenal must answer after perplexing January transfer decision

It is now more than a week into the January transfer window; Arsenal have won one, lost one and drawn one, but the defeat in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final to Newcastle United and the stalemate at Brighton have hammered the mood around the club. They have also brought a perspective to fans and a greater call for action.

That desire to see reinforcement appears to be on the increase every single day and who can blame supporters for that? It is evident, particularly from Tuesday night, that the Gunners’ biggest problem is in the forward line.

Yes, goals are being conceded too, but after 23 shots and just three on target and a timid and shallow attacking performance on the south coast, it is clear this team needs reinforcements. The worry is that there appears to be little sign of that changing and Mikel Arteta therefore has two clear questions to answer.

What is stopping you from signing players?

We know it is not the finances, because after selling players on deadline day of the summer window there is financial freedom and barring a ridiculous investment, Profit and Sustainability rules are not a factor either. Money is there, barriers are down - and yet there is a reluctance.

football.london understands that Nico Williams is a player that Mikel Arteta likes and appreciates. As with all La Liga players, he also has a release clause, although his wages would be significant and perhaps this is the issue in fitting into the Arsenal wage structure.

There is a real opportunity for Arsenal across multiple competitions, especially with Manchester City having fallen away and Liverpool, despite being top, not looking infallible in their last two games. Not capitalising on that would be seen as a big error of judgement.

So is it a reluctance from the ownership to invest? Has the resignation of sporting director Edu created challenges in the window? Or are the club simply not convinced by the potential candidates that are on the market this winter?

What does Arsenal's season look like without signings?

Well, that is arguably a harder question to answer because we truly do not know how the second half of the campaign will turn out. Should Arsenal find their finishing, maybe the season changes for the better; the game against Newcastle could have been very different had Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Martinelli tucked away their first-half opportunities.

Arsenal sit on the same number of points after 20 games despite having tougher fixtures. They have gone further in the Carabao Cup and sit third in the new-fangled Champions League league table.

The season has not been bad so far, but the mood is incredibly low. Injury and illness has stripped Mikel Arteta of his best assets and yet his side has ground out good wins and remains unbeaten against the 'Big Six' yet again.

But expectations continue to rise and the threat of Arne Slot picking up the title in his first season despite what he inherited and the comparative fortune Liverpool have had compared to the Gunners is a worrying one. Things turn sour quickly in north London and the fans need a lift – the market is an obvious way to do that but it must be for the right player.

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