By Station Rat
November 13 2026

Five points clear at the top of the table and, Brighton aside, defensively outstanding. It is difficult to describe Arsenal’s season so far as anything other than a success. Yet perhaps the most encouraging thing is that we have got ourselves into this position without really looking like the finished article. There are still obvious weaknesses, particularly going forward, and plenty for Arteta to improve.

Defence is doing the heavy lifting

The defence has been the foundation of everything. The Brighton game was an obvious exception, but generally Arsenal have been remarkably difficult to create chances against.

Even when the football hasn’t flowed, that defensive security means we stay in games and find ways to win. It is a characteristic of title-winning sides and, right now, comfortably the strongest part of this Arsenal team.

A midfield still searching for balance

Midfield is more difficult to assess. Bruno Guimarães has looked excellent at times coming from the bench but, strangely, less convincing as a starter.

Interestingly, the team appears better balanced with Myles Lewis-Skelly in midfield. MLS might not provide the individual quality of Bruno, but the midfield seems more cohesive with him there and those around him appear to benefit.

That leaves Arteta with a fascinating problem. Bruno is unquestionably a top-class footballer, but at the moment his biggest impact often seems to come when Arsenal need a game changed rather than controlled.

Berta wins an award, but has he solved Arsenal's biggest problem?

Andrea Berta was named Best Executive at the 2026 Golden Boy awards. 

Forgive us if we don't get too excited.

Nobody can deny that the squad has been strengthened in several areas under Andrea Berta. But recruitment is ultimately about identifying weaknesses and fixing them. Arsenal's weakness was the attack. It remains the attack. 

Despite all the transfer activity, Arsenal still don't have an obvious first-choice centre-forward. Havertz and Gyökeres are very different players but equally imperfect solutions, while the lack of a genuinely dangerous option from the left remains glaring.

That is difficult to ignore because it wasn't a hidden problem. We have spent several seasons watching an excellent Arsenal side fall short at times because it lacked sufficient attacking variety. Improving that area should have been Andrea Berta's number one priority.

Instead, he appears to have strengthened areas that were already strong without adequately addressing the one which could ultimately determine whether Arsenal win the biggest trophies.

Havertz or Gyökeres? The debate continues

The Havertz-Gyökeres dichotomy sums up the problem perfectly.

Havertz gives you intelligence, movement and combination play but can lack the ruthlessness you want from your centre-forward and excels in the big games. . Gyökeres brings power, presence and directness, but can look less comfortable within Arsenal's more intricate attacking play, although has improved in recent games

Both have qualities. Neither currently feels like the complete answer.

After all the talk of finally solving Arsenal's number nine problem, we have essentially ended up with a different question rather than an answer.

Madueke has been the exception

One attacking recruitment decision that does increasingly look right is Noni Madueke.

His form since the last international break has been one of the high points of the season. He is direct, aggressive and willing to attack his full-back, providing the unpredictability Arsenal can otherwise lack. He has also developed off the ball runs where previously he always wanted the ball to feet.

The emergence of Madueke also makes the weakness on the opposite side considerably more noticeable.

January has to be about the left

For that reason, Arsenal's priority in January 2027 should be obvious: sign a left winger.

Not another versatile forward who can play there. Not another player who needs converting into the role. Arsenal need someone naturally suited to attacking from the left, capable of beating a defender and providing a genuine goal threat.

Andrea Berta has received his award. Arsenal are five points clear. The defence is outstanding and the squad has considerable depth.

Now comes the bit that really matters, strengthen the attack.

Because if Arsenal can finally find an attacking unit worthy of this defence, being five points clear might only be the beginning.