Alexander Isak is Arsenal’s dream signing but there are six more realistic January striker transfer targets

WITH Thierry Henry in his pomp, Arsenal went 49 Prem games unbeaten from May 2003 to October 2004.

Over two decades on, Mikel Arteta’s Gunners are in danger of seeing their season unravel in spectacular style after just one goal from 49 shots across two games.

The difference? Among other things, a world class scorer like club legend Henry who netted 39 league goals in that record-breaking 17-month stretch.

And if Arsenal are to relive the glory days of Arsene Wenger’s title-winning 2004 Invincibles this term under Arteta, money must be spent on something they have not had since Mr Va Va Voom strutted his stuff in North London.

A snarling, selfish, goal-getting machine to drag them over the line for major trophies.

That historic 49-game run 21 years ago was ended at the hands of Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United in controversial fashion at Old Trafford thanks to Ruud van Nistelrooy’s emphatic penalty.

And in another spicy meeting between the two sides on Sunday, spot-kicks settled an FA Cup third round tie at the Emirates, this time ending with Joshua Zirkzee’s shoot-out-winning strike.

But in truth, Arsenal were their own worst enemies, and not for the first time, scoring just once from 26 shots having failed to find the net from 23 shots in their Carabao Cup semi-final first leg 2-0 defeat to Newcastle on home soil.

Kai Havertz wasted a hatful of glaring chances against a struggling 10-man United outfit fit for a true marksman in normal time before the German missed the crucial 12-yarder.

Arteta has insisted this current crop have an eye for goal, citing broken scoring records over the past two years – bagging more goals [114] in 2024 at their highest rate [2.28 per game] since 1963.

And according to the Spaniard, splashing the cash on a proper striker will NOT solve the problem, especially with injuries to key players blighting this campaign so far.

Gabriel Jesus is the latest crocked star – the Brazilian facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after being carried off on a stretcher early on against United with a knee injury, while star man Bukayo Saka is set to be out until at least March following hamstring surgery.

Arteta reiterated again on Sunday: “I understand guys [signing a striker], but I cannot love our players more. And I focus very much on the ones that we have to perform at the highest level.

“That's it. The rest is not in our hands, in my hands.”

But Arteta’s cries for calm and patience are falling on deaf ears, while piercing eyes are turning to co-owners Stan and Josh Kroenke to invest in one defining reinforcement.

Arsenal are economically in a good place, but there are currently not in a position to fork out over £100m for top target and Toon sensation Alexander Isak, nor are they willing to rip up their wage structure for a promising talent they like the look of in Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams.

Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres and Red Bull Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko are also admired, but they will not be cheap, and can they replicate their form from Portugal and Germany in the Prem?

A diamond in the rough who is affordable, under the radar and ready to hit the ground running right now in the toughest league on the planet is required.

Whether that exists in this market is another question entirely, something Arteta cannot blame on anyone else after prioritising other areas of his squad in recent windows.

And without that final piece to the puzzle, Arsenal are likely to fall short for a third-straight year, finishing second to an Erling Haaland-inspired Manchester City in both 2022/23 and 2023/24.

For all the progress and promise, this could very well be Arteta’s Achilles heel – one that ends up leaving an unwelcome stain on a tenure that has teased the fan base with a return to the summit of English Football.

Skipper Martin Odegaard – who missed a 72nd minute penalty with the scores at 1-1 – echoed the thoughts of most frustrated Arsenal supporters.

He said: “It’s not good enough. We could have been a bit sharper in front of goal, in the last pass, the last shot, the finish, the decision-making.”

Of course, Arsenal remain in with a shout of lifting silverware this term, even without an Henry-like figure leading the line.

The Carabao Cup final is within reach should they overturn a daunting score line at St James’ Park next month, their quest for the title is not out of reach, even if they remain six points off leaders Liverpool who have a game in hand, and their Champions League form has been promising.

Yet we are seeing cracks in the foundations that cannot go ignored, and a feeling it could all come crumbling down before too long.