Arsenal’s failure to sign a prolific centre-forward, a clinical finisher, represents a crime against their title ambitions.
Now nine points behind a vibrant, well-organised Liverpool side, Arsenal may now simply be targeting top four rather than top spot.
Large deficits can be turned around, and Martin Odegaard’s return from injury stirs some hope, but a season of promise for Arsenal is drifting without a heavyweight front man.
It is a familiar lament, and one heard with increasing frustration and loudness amongst Arsenal’s supporter base.
Kai Havertz moves cleverly into promising positions, and possesses exceptional technique, but his Premier League goals this season have come against Wolves, Brighton, Leicester and Southampton.
It may seem excessively harsh to criticise a player who has settled a Champions League final – for Chelsea in 2021 – but he doesn’t hurt the big sides enough in the Premier League.
A player who keeps giving blood for the Arsenal cause, sustaining another cut to the head here, doesn’t draw enough blood from elite opposition.
Havertz is not a No 9. He’s no Thierry Henry, Ian Wright or Robin van Persie. How far do you want to go back? He’s no John Radford.
Nor is the man who wears No.9, Gabriel Jesus, who looked bereft of confidence and looked unlikely to score his first Premier League goal of the season in his ninth appearance.
Leandro Trossard also rose from the bench and missed a glorious opportunity to win this derby in added time. William Saliba crossed from the left and Trossard slid in, somehow managing to steer the ball wide from two yards out and also depriving Havertz of the chance.
Offside or not, the moment embodied why Arsenal struggle to keep pace with Liverpool. Mohamed Salah has scored twice as many as Arsenal’s top scorer, Havertz with those four.
Manchester City, for all their stuttering form, have the marksman at the top of the Premier League scoring charts in Erling Haaland.
Brentford have Bryan Mbeumo with eight and Yoane Wissa with seven. Ipswich Town’s young buccaneer, Liam Delap, has six.
Put Alexander Isak, four in four for Newcastle, in Arsenal’s attack and you’d have a team more capable of pursuing Liverpool.
Isak seems happy at Newcastle, of course, and Eddie Howe’s side are only a point behind Arsenal anyway, so there’s no suggestion of the Swede leaving but his type of finisher is what Arsenal crave.
It seems bizarre that Arsenal have gone into this season without sufficient fire-power, preferring to stock up on midfield players and defenders.
It seems unnecessarily stubborn by Mikel Arteta, who responded to Trossard’s miss by slipping and slamming his fist against the apron of the pitch.
Normally, a point at Chelsea would be acceptable but Arsenal really needed more.
The obvious positives were Martin Odegaard getting 90 minutes and showing his creativity with a fine ball in from the right that brought Gabriel Martinelli’s goal on the hour, only his third in 17 games.
As well as his goal, exploiting poor reaction by Robert Sanchez at the post, Martinelli largely impressed and stretched Chelsea.
But the game is about fine lines and ten minutes after scoring the Brazilian didn’t track back with Pedro Neto. The Chelsea winger, who had switched to the right flank, cut in and beat David Raya.
Arsenal’s goalkeeper had played well, including a good tip-over save from Cole Palmer, but had little chance with Neto’s strike. Gabriel was quick to have a word with Martinelli.
Chelsea, who rose to third, celebrated the point more. They have a very young side and will continue to improve.
Palmer was largely well-patrolled by Thomas Partey but Neto put in a superb performance initially on the left, and then the right. Neto’s work out of possession was also impressive, at one point tracking deep to help Marc Cucurella close down Bukayo Saka.
At one point before an Odegaard corner, Neto shouted encouragement to his defenders. He’s clearly a good character as well as a good player.
Chelsea have negotiated some tricky fixtures, have Reece James getting more minutes and his leadership is really important as well as his defensive expertise.
Nicolas Jackson was getting little joy against Saliba and Gabriel and Christopher Nkunku could have replaced him earlier.
But that’s a quibble. Enzo Maresca’s decision-making is earning him plenty of respect amongst Chelsea fans. Romeo Lavia deservedly starts ahead of Enzo Fernandez. And they’re ahead of Arsenal in the table.
If Arteta had bought a finisher it would be different.
