Some will look at it surficially and say, there's only so much a coach can do, he doesn't have ownership of the money bag.
I want to agree that the truth is, Arteta's bosses, were unwilling to spend this January and it is something Arteta knew beforehand.
My understanding of the workings of Arsenal’s board clearly informs me that
there was an agreement not to buy this January based on the spending already done and the very words of Arteta as money was released to him.
LET'S DELVE IN
Look Arteta ain't new to the workings of his bosses. He was a player and a captain of this very club. He has experienced first hand, the frugal manner with which this club handles money. Infact his coming to Arsenal as a player was a classical example of this frugality of this my dear club. We were expecting a big name to come in and replace a Fabregas(or captain fantastic) that just left,but the big name never came– as usual they dilly-dallied till the final moments of the window and in came Mikel Arteta from Everton like a smuggled in purchase. Well he wasn't a bad player, so it appeased the fan base.
There's no doubt in my mind that the board quizzed him exhaustively before a Harvetz was bought. He looked them in the eyes and assured them that a key player leaving, Xhaka, has to be replaced by the German. They gave him the money.
Alas it didn't work, Arteta nearly grew white hair because of this error till he found a way to plug Harvetz into the number 9 role– thanks to the Dubai heat.🙂
Even so, we all saw eventhough he was making efforts and scoring from time to time, he wasn't and isn't a proper number 9, and last summer here comes the board again, ready to splash the cash on a proper striker. Arteta looked at a previously faltering Gabriel Jesus who became fit as last season ended and assured the board that yes he needs the cash but it won't be to get a striker. So in came Merino et al.
So who's fault is it?
You had always known the management you signed for. They are not Chelsea, Manchester City or Manchester United who can allow some margin for error. Yours is different, once they release the money don't come back complaining or pleading with them.
Furthermore, you have also been working with the management for more than a couple of years before you signed Merino, so what's your excuse?
That's why folks blame Arteta. He knew what he was getting into ab initio.
WHAT TO DO
So now, he would be praying that the wings work well. Only the right has been functioning before Saka got injured. Liverpool has two working wings, so Nunez doesn't have to score often, sometimes he doesn't start even.
If both wings can fire and Odegaard captures the goal scoring prowess he had before that his injury time due to his natuonal team commitment, then there's hope.
Look I see no team in the whole world as organised as the Gunners. We played mighty Inter Milan in this year's Champions league and it was amazing that Inter became confused on how to navigate the ball. The problem was that there wasn't a proper striker in that Arsenal squad, so finally Inter managed a lone goal victory.
So indeed, Arteta has done such a monumental job both in the mentality of the boys and the overall organisation in play. This isn't the soft underbelly Arsenal of Wenger's latter years. It was just a tiny little detail left, just the icing on the cake– a proper full-blown striker! Isak waited and waited on Arsenal before opting for Newcastle.
This tiny little detail isn't really as tiny as the word "tiny" suggests. Arsenal supporters know what the lack of this icing has cost Arsenal in two seasons or more.
Like I said, we hope the wings work better as they are beginning to now, then ofcourse in the summer, the board is ready to spend, that's for sure. I know them.
Cheers