Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz can't do it all! Arsenal need to sign another forward to topple Manchester City and end Premier League title drought

Arsenal's accomplished performance followed their near-faultless end to the 2023-24 campaign, where they won all but two of their final 18 Premier League matches. Ultimately, this was - rather incredibly - not quite enough to lift the trophy, with their sole defeat to Aston Villa during this period opening the door for Manchester City to win their fourth-successive title.

But while things would ultimately end in disappointment, this spell was perhaps the best the team has ever performed under Arteta. Just before this winning run began, back-to-back defeats to West Ham and Fulham had raised serious concerns over the Gunners' lack of goal threat, only for Havertz to emerge as an excellent option up front with Declan Rice filling in his vacant midfield spot.

The fact that the German took just 25 minutes to open his account for the campaign on Saturday, after waiting 20 games last time out, will have been extremely gratifying for Arteta, who backed his £65 million ($84m) man to the hilt throughout a period of criticism. Saka's contribution, despite enduring a disrupted pre-season due to his lengthy Euro 2024 commitments, was cause for celebration too. The same applies for Raya in goal, another player Arteta had to defend at times last campaign.

There's still new elements to be added to the mix, too. Oleksandr Zinchenko was rewarded for a promising pre-season with a start, but in the long term it would be surprising if Jurrien Timber or Riccardo Calafiori do not rise above the Ukrainian in the defensive pecking order.

It was the former who replaced Zinchenko in the second half, with Arteta providing an interesting update on the situation after the final whistle: "We go game by game. Jurrien has been struggling in the last few weeks and hadn’t played any minutes in the last two or three weeks. Riccardo has just landed and is getting used to a lot of things. They are both progressing really well and we have a lot of competition there, which is great for the team."

Then there's Mikel Merino. It's been a tireless transfer saga, but after the midfielder was left out of Real Sociedad's squad on Sunday, it seems like he may finally complete his long-awaited move to the Emirates this week. The Spain international's arrival will add a fresh dynamic in midfield, likely freeing up Rice to return to the No.6 role after Thomas Partey endured some sloppy moments on the ball in the second half of the Wolves game.

It's only right that there's plenty of excitement bubbling around the Emirates at present, then. But analysing things from a wider lens, Arsenal's squad heading into the new season falls just short of perfection. Over his past three, full campaigns, Saka has missed just three Premier League matches. Havertz, meanwhile, featured in all but one of the Gunners' league games last season.

So, while the duo's synergy on the opening day was greeted with real enthusiasm, the above does raise the question of how well Arsenal would be able to cope if one or even both of the duo are sidelined for an extended period this term. Gabriel Jesus had a promising pre-season, but his repeated fitness issues will do little to calm these fears.

Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah remain options too, but both Hale End graduates have stagnated badly over the past few years. They are now 24 and 25, respectively, and it seems increasingly unlikely they'll make the grade and contribute regularly to a team chasing the Premier League title.

Leandro Trossard can at least be relied upon, having scored an impressive 16 times last season. Saying that, the Belgian works best off the left anyway, and may end up starting more games than Gabriel Martinelli this season, who's now managed just four goals in his last 23 Premier League appearances.

This might suggest that bringing in an additional forward - either a striker or competition for Saka down the right - before the deadline closes would be a sensible idea. But it's something that Arteta has distanced the club from in recent times. Instead, the Arsenal boss has backed Saka and Havertz's supporting cast to find an extra gear.

"I already said at the beginning that the main focus is to improve our players and find margins that help them find a level that they probably hadn’t even dreamed about," he said after the Wolves game.

And when asked directly about whether the Gunners would dip into the transfer market to strengthen their forward options, Arteta issued something close to a straight denial. "We have great strikers already; we have a great attacking line," he said.

So, that's that then. Well, perhaps not, as Arteta has also opened the door for more exits before the summer is out. "The market is open and things can happen," he told reporters ahead of his side's opener.

Nketiah might be one of those who leaves. The centre-forward has been linked with a move away from the Gunners for what feels like an eternity, with Arsenal reported to be open to letting him depart earlier this month. Marseille were in talks for a while, but their interest has since cooled. Bournemouth were in the race too, but have since signed Evanilson from Porto for £40m ($52m) as Dominic Solanke's replacement. Now, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest or Everton seems like his most likely landing spot.

Nelson might be off, too. Leicester were mentioned heavily towards the beginning of the summer and might rekindle their interest as we edge closer to the window slamming shut. In both cases, salary demands have been an issue, but as another season warming the bench beckons, the homegrown duo may push for an agreement to be found.

Kieran Tierney could yet leave too, with competition for places at left-back likely to restrict his minutes considerably once he returns to full fitness.

If Arsenal do raise some funds, it's not inconceivable that they would be tempted into the market. Although there are few doubts over their starting XI, an increase in gameload due to the new Champions League format and a feasibly greater risk of muscle injuries after a two-tournament summer, means that strength in depth will be more important than ever down the stretch.

One interesting possibility is Ivan Toney. A long-time Arsenal target, the England striker was left out of the Brentford squad on Sunday as speculation over his future continues to rage amid links with the Saudi Pro League. Signing a 28-year-old - particularly one with only one year left to run on his contract - would be an out of step move for Edu, but as the club's pursuit of Merino proves, the Gunners sporting director is willing to recruit older players if they can provide an instant spike in the arm to the first team.

And much like Merino, Toney would offer something Arsenal do not possess at present. Namely, a pure goal-scoring presence at centre-forward. For all of his improvement, Havertz is still not an ice-cold killer in front of goal and neither is Jesus. Toney's all-round game is often overlooked too and we know how highly Arteta values aerial prowess - another of his key strengths.

Obviously, the Gunners would need to get Brentford down from their current asking price of £60m ($78m), but with no contract extension in sight, it puts the buying club in a strong position heading into the final weeks of August.

Signing Toney would be a real statement of intent to Manchester City that Arsenal are going full steam ahead for the Premier League trophy this season. Everywhere else on the pitch, the Gunners look well stocked; Toney - or a similar attacking signing - might just be the difference-maker in what looks set to be another close contest for the title.