How can Arsenal start scoring again?! Serhou Guirassy, Roberto Firmino and the strikers Mikel Arteta could sign to prevent Gunners' season from collapsing

It wasn't just the Liverpool game that highlighted Arsenal's desperate desire for an ice-cold finisher. With that result taken into account, the Gunners have now generated 61 shots and 6.47 expected goals (xG) over their past three matches - all losing efforts - but only scored once.

The picture looks equally bad when we extend the sample to seven games, during which time Arsenal have won just once in all competitions. Over that period, their 11.6 xG has returned just five goals, a remarkable underperformance considering how lethal the Gunners were in the final third for the majority of last season.

Speaking after the Liverpool defeat, Arteta was asked whether his side's timidity in front of goal was the result of a psychological issue. "Probably," he responded. "Especially after today, more than it was against Fulham or West Ham before that. That's why I think we need to reset. This break is good. It comes in a good time. We're going to as well feel how we feel and how I feel about them in difficult moments. Hopefully I can see that from other people too. When things are going well they jump on the train. Now things are difficult, let's see where they stand."

One of the complexities of Arsenal's recent poor run is, despite the poor results, they have continued to carve out chances at an impressive rate. It just so happens that their attacking midfielders and forwards appear to have simultaneously all lost that killer instinct in front of goal.

After scoring an impressive 15 times in the Premier League last campaign, Martin Odegaard has been far less productive this season. The Gunners captain is currently on a six-game scoreless streak, having netted just four times in 2023-24.

It's a similar story with Gabriel Martinelli, who's scored only once in his last 12 Premier League matches. Even Bukayo Saka, who usually produces like clockwork in front of goal, has seen his form desert him over the past few weeks; he's managed just one strike in his last seven games in all competitions.

In the case of these two widemen, there's a feeling among the fanbase that their effectiveness is being stifled by Arteta's increased desire for control this season. As pointed out by arseblog, both Saka and Martinelli are receiving the ball earlier in attacks and hugging the touchline as the Gunners eschew risky take-ons in favour of keeping hold of possession. There's a possibility that this top-down desire for "dominance", as Arteta described it recently, is manifesting itself into hesitant finishing.

Against Liverpool, the Emirates crowd became vocally frustrated by their side dwelling on the ball when they could have shot, with Reiss Nelson, Kai Havertz and Odegaard all guilty of taking too many touches in and around the box.

This unfortunate trait extends to Arteta's strikers too. Eddie Nketiah, who was close to leaving in the summer, hasn't netted a Premier League goal since his hat-trick against Sheffield United all the way back in October, while Gabriel Jesus - who is injured again - has underperformed his personal xG by a staggering 1.8 this season. Only 12 Premier League players have fared worse.

Another Arsenal player suffering with butterflies in front of goal is Havertz. Against Liverpool, he missed four presentable chances in the first half. The most glaring of these was a free header from inside the six-yard box which flew wide of the post - an image that Gunners fans have grown depressingly used to seeing since the German's £65 million ($82m) move from Chelsea.

It wasn't all bad from Havertz on Sunday, as his link-up play and movement caused Liverpool issues at times, but having cost such a significant sum, he simply must start scoring more frequently, whether that be as a striker or a No.8.

This is particularly important as his transfer fee has hamstrung Arteta this January. It's pretty clear that if the funds were available, the Gunners would at least try to sign a centre-forward this month. However, Arteta and Edu decided to prioritise other areas in the summer, bringing in Jurrien Timber, David Raya and Declan Rice alongside Havertz.

There was significant chatter about Arsenal needing a reliable goalscorer before the season kicked-off and this has proved to be a prophetic discussion.

If Arsenal had decided against bringing in Havertz, there would be more money in the pot to recruit Ivan Toney this month. However, with Brentford slapping a £100m ($127m) price tag on his head, it seems implausible that will be able to do that in January.

Ironically, Arteta's decision to strengthen in the goalkeeping department instead of signing a striker has also ruled out a creative way of getting the deal done. In theory, Toney might have been able to join on loan with an option-to-buy inserted into the agreement. But as Arsenal already have a similar deal in place with the Bees for Raya, Premier League rules mean it is not permissible.

It's an incredibly frustrating situation for Arsenal, which looks like mismanagement in hindsight. Toney is Premier League-proven, clearly ready to take the next step in his career and balances his excellent goalscoring record with an often underappreciated all-round game. He's also understood to be open to moving to the Emirates, though his most recent comments suggest that he will not be pushing for a January transfer.

"Everyone knows Brentford is a family club, they have been nothing but amazing for me. I can't thank them enough, especially the fans. They were behind me from the first minute as well. So it's kind of like I have a lot to repay," he told Sky Sports.

With Toney seemingly off the table, Arsenal face the most difficult of tasks: finding a goalscorer in the notoriously-challenging January market. Manchester United are no strangers to this predicament, infamously settling for Odion Ighalo and Wout Weghorst in recent winter windows.

As those two examples show, it might be better for Arteta to continue with what he has and rely on the Gunners' upcoming warm-weather training camp in Dubai to restore some confidence into his attackers. Then again, while January can be a difficult market to negotiate, domino effects can sometimes create unique circumstances to strengthen, particularly when you are searching for loan solutions.

Roberto Firmino is one such case. The Brazilian is reportedly looking for a way out of Al-Ahli following an extremely challenging start to life in the Saudi Pro League. So far, Firmino has been linked with clubs lower down the Premier League table, but last season proved he can still cut it at the top level.

The Brazilian managed 11 Premier League goals for Liverpool in 2022-23, a feat made even more impressive when you consider he started just 13 matches. Although he is not a typical, goalscoring centre-forward, the success he had bringing the best out of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane might suggest that he could do similar for Saka and Martinelli either side of him.

And considering Al-Ahli are looking to hold onto him long-term, a six-month loan deal would be possible to finance, particularly if Arsenal sell one or two players this month is as expected.

Their recent run may also have persuaded Arsenal to reignite their interest in historic transfer targets. The Gunners pushed hard to bring in Dusan Vlahovic back in January 2021, with the Serbian eventually opting to sign for Serie A giants Juventus. He's endured an up-and-down time in Turin since then, but has been back among the goals more recently, scoring seven times this season in a fairly-defensive side.

Playing in a team that creates more chances, like Arsenal, would likely suit Vlahovic, as there's little doubt he remains the lethal finisher that had the world's best clubs fighting over him after he starred at Fiorentina. He could feasibly be brought in on loan initially, with an obligation to buy in the summer. Alternatively, a player-plus-cash deal could tempt Juventus into doing business. It's another difficult negotiation, though, with the Bianconeri currently involved in a tense title race.

Pedro Neto is another name that Arsenal like. However, despite his excellent assists return this season, he is hardly prolific, and convincing Wolves to let him leave mid-season would be extremely difficult. Again, sweetening the pot by offering either Nketiah or Nelson as part-exchange could be an option to explore.

Aside from this pair, Marcos Leonardo has been linked in the past, but the ex-Santos sensation has recently joined Benfica. Arsenal are also one of the few clubs who haven't been mentioned as a possible destination for Stuttgart hotshot Serhou Guirassy, who has plundered 17 goals in the Bundesliga so far this season.

A release clause means he would cost just €17.5m (£15.2m/$19.4m) this month, and while Arsenal might not have considered signing him before their recent goal drought, they could now enter the running as they desperately try to avoid falling any further behind in the Premier League title race.