After yet another frustrating result, Arsenal fans are once again searching for answers. While some supporters have pointed fingers at referees, claiming controversial decisions have derailed their title hopes, the harsh reality is far simpler — poor investment decisions and squad imbalances have cost Arsenal far more than any referee ever could.
Despite spending over £100 million in recent transfer windows, the club has failed to effectively address its most critical weaknesses. So, what went wrong — and how can Arsenal finally break through?
The £100m Misstep: Why Do Arsenal Still Have Glaring Gaps?
Arsenal’s transfer strategy in recent years has shown ambition, with high-profile signings like:
- Declan Rice (£105m) — a transformative defensive midfielder who has brought steel and leadership to the squad.
- Kai Havertz (£65m) — a versatile forward expected to add attacking flair but who has struggled to fit into Mikel Arteta’s system.
- Jurrien Timber (£38m) — a promising defensive addition whose season-ending injury has robbed Arsenal of crucial squad depth.
On paper, these moves should have propelled Arsenal closer to Manchester City and Liverpool. In reality, however, the team’s fundamental issues remain unresolved.
1. Questionable Recruitment in Key Areas
Arsenal’s spending spree has lacked balance, leaving glaring holes in the squad:
- Kai Havertz’s struggle to adapt: Signed for his versatility, Havertz has been a misfit in Arteta’s setup — neither excelling as a forward nor providing the midfield control Arsenal desperately needs. His flashes of brilliance have been overshadowed by long spells of inconsistency.
- Jurrien Timber’s absence: While Timber’s injury is unfortunate, his signing didn’t address the squad’s most urgent needs — namely, a prolific striker. Relying on defensive reinforcements when the attack is already blunt feels like a miscalculation.
- Declan Rice’s solo effort: While Rice has been excellent, his signing alone hasn’t solved Arsenal’s lack of creativity and clinical finishing in the final third. Midfield solidity means little without goals at the other end.
2. Attacking Weaknesses: Where’s the Clinical Finisher?
For all their flair and creativity, Arsenal lacks a reliable goal-scoring striker — a glaring issue that continues to haunt their title ambitions.
- Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, and Gabriel Martinelli are fantastic creators and scorers in their own right, but none of them are natural, clinical finishers capable of consistently hitting 20+ goals a season.
- Eddie Nketiah has had moments of promise but hasn’t shown the ruthless consistency needed at the highest level.
- Leandro Trossard brings flair but isn’t a reliable goal-getter either.
Without a proper No. 9, Arsenal’s attack feels one-dimensional — relying too heavily on wide players like Saka and Martinelli to carry the goal-scoring load.
If Arsenal truly wants to push City and Liverpool, they need a striker who guarantees goals — someone who can turn a half-chance into a winner, especially in tight, high-stakes games.
The Referee Conspiracy Myth
While some Arsenal fans have pointed to refereeing decisions as the reason for their faltering title push, this narrative is a dangerous distraction.
Yes, controversial calls happen — they always have — but Arsenal’s title challenge isn’t being undone by referees. It’s being undermined by:
- A lack of squad depth — evident when injuries hit key players like Timber and Thomas Partey.
- Poor finishing — with crucial points dropped due to missed chances rather than dodgy officiating.
- Ineffective transfer decisions — with funds spent on players like Havertz who haven’t solved Arsenal’s most pressing issues.
Referees may influence moments, but titles are won by squads built to handle pressure and overcome adversity — something Arsenal simply isn’t equipped to do yet.
What Arsenal Must Focus on to Become Title Contenders
Instead of fixating on refereeing drama, Arsenal must face reality: their squad needs smarter investments and better balance.
Key areas to strengthen:
- A clinical striker — Someone who can score 20+ goals a season and ease the burden on Saka, Ødegaard, and Martinelli.
- A dynamic midfielder — While Rice adds defensive muscle, Arsenal needs a creative spark who can unlock tight defenses and offer attacking thrust.
- Squad depth — Injuries will happen. Arsenal needs more reliable options off the bench — not just hopeful projects.
Arteta has laid a solid tactical foundation, but without better recruitment and a killer instinct in front of goal, Arsenal will remain title outsiders.
Conclusion: Stop Blaming Referees — Start Fixing the Squad
Arsenal’s title push hasn’t been derailed by referee conspiracies — it’s faltered because of mismanaged investments, attacking frailty, and a lack of squad depth.
To finally end their Premier League drought, Arsenal must:
- Invest smarter — focusing on what the squad actually needs, not just high-profile names.
- Sign a goal-scoring striker — someone who can turn their dominance into decisive wins.
- Stop the excuses — Referees don’t win titles. Balanced squads and clinical finishers do.
The sooner Arsenal shifts focus away from blaming officials and starts fixing their real problems, the closer they’ll be to becoming genuine champions.
Because the path to the title doesn’t run through the referee’s whistle — it runs through the transfer market and Arteta’s tactics board.