If there was ever a game that made it clear exactly what Arsenal must do in the transfer market between now and the end of the month, it was the one we witnessed against Newcastle last night.
In terms of chances, it was a game Arsenal should have won. Very comfortably actually. But in the end they lost it with little complaining.
Why? Because Mikel Arteta's wasteful side could play for hours without scoring one of the many chances they had during the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, while at the other end Newcastle – and Alexander Isak in particular – gave them a lesson in finishing. .
Arteta bemoaned his team's waste after the 2-0 defeat. “If you look at what the two teams did, it's not a result that reflects the story of the match. But the truth is that they were very efficient with the chances they had and we didn't.
The truth is that this is nothing new. It's the story of the season for Arsenal. Yes, they scored a lot of goals and had some big wins. But there are also 13 matches in all competitions in which they scored just one goal in a single game or failed to score altogether. That's 13 games out of 30, just under half.
This is not good enough and paints a clear picture of the team's ineptitude. They clearly lack players with that killer instinct in front of goal.
Newcastle have one in Isaac. Arsenal no. It's that simple. Isak showed everyone exactly what Arsenal was missing and he was impossible to ignore.
Opta statistics showed that Arsenal finished the first leg of the semi-final with 3.12 expected goals, the highest number scored by a Premier League team this season in a match in which they failed to score.
Simply put, if Arsenal had had Isak in their team last night, they would have had one foot in the final by now. Instead, they face a painful semi-final exit and more questions about why they haven't done more to bolster their attack.
The need for at least one new attacking option is clear for all to see, and if they do not find one in the January transfer window, it is very difficult to see them being able to go on and claim the silverware that the manager and players have achieved. And the supporters are yearning.
You have to be decisive when the big moments arrive in the big matches. If not, you'll end up with nothing.
Arsenal took a big gamble in the summer when they resisted the urge to spend any money on their attack. When Benjamin Sisko told them no, they had plenty of time to look for other options. But they decided to keep their money and move forward again with what they already had, barring the last-minute addition of Raheem Sterling on loan of course.
It's a gamble that clearly backfired.
With three weeks left in the January window, they have a chance to at least try to right the wrongs of the summer. If they don't seize this opportunity, it's hard to see them having enough to get over the line in any of the competitions they still have their eye on.
So, the end result of Arsenal's interest in Matheus Cunha appears to be for the Brazilian to make new connections with Wolves, albeit with a release clause said to have been included should the Midlands side be relegated.
This makes sense for Wolves, who will be able to command a larger fee for their biggest asset, but it also makes sense for Cunha as it gives him a pay rise, while also leaving him a route out of Molineux if things turn sour in the future.
I don't understand why this new contract rules out the possibility of a move to Arsenal in the summer. I think Cunha looks ready to move to one of the top four clubs, whether that's to Arsenal or someone else, and I'm sure that will happen soon.
In a way, it's a bit like Benjamin Sisko's situation. He also signed a new contract last summer while Arsenal were up for grabs, but that hasn't put an end to Arsenal's interest in the RB Leipzig striker and I wouldn't be shocked if they reconsider a potential move for him at some point.
Arsenal already have their plans for the summer window. Mikel Arteta traveled to the United States before Christmas with interim sporting director Jason Ato'o and technical director Richard Garlick to meet the Kroenix to determine his hopes for the summer.
The important thing now is whether Arsenal can fast-track any of these plans and bring them forward to this month, as they desperately need at least one new addition up front for the second half of the season.
Even if it means overpaying to get the deal done now, rather than waiting for the summer, I think it's worth it given Bukayo Saka's injury and some other issues the team has.
I loved the way Ethan Nwaniri scored his goal against Brighton on Saturday.
The intent he showed when he raced onto Mikel Merino's pass was truly impressive. He showed real initiative and drive to get into the box and clear his shot.
Some players his age might have looked to pass the buck on to someone else in this situation, but not Nwanyere. He stood up for himself and got paid.
To be honest, I don't think he had the best performances except for that moment. I'm not sure if he was hampered a bit by the injury issue that forced him off in the first half, but he struggled to get behind his full-backs throughout the first half.
He received the ball in some good situations a few times, but he never looked like he was beaten by his man in a one-on-one situation.
We don't know yet how long Nwaniri will be out with this injury, but Mikel Arteta's comments after the match did not look very promising.
Hopefully he won't be sidelined for long as he has shown he can make things happen on the right side in Bukayo Saka's absence.
He had a fantastic game against Brentford and although he struggled a bit at Brighton, he made an impact when he saw the goal.
This is what Arsenal needs. Everyone must contribute during Saka's absence and Nwanyere has now proven he can do that, whether it is through his passes from outside the pitch or through his ability to score himself.
I don't think you can really say he should be 'first choice' all the time to replace Saka. That's a lot for a 17-year-old, mentally and physically, really.
The fact that he has just suffered a muscle problem after starting two consecutive Premier League matches is a good example of this.
It still needs to be managed and this must be done carefully. But when he is fit, it is clear he has a big role to play between now and the end of the season.
Thomas Partey's contract situation looks set to become a source of real debate as the season continues.
Partey has shown through his performances this season that he is still capable of performing at the highest level and, perhaps more importantly, he has shown that his body is still capable of standing up to the demands of a Premier League season.
But he will be 32 by the start of next season, so I can understand why Arsenal would be hesitant to offer him a big new deal.
He is one of the club's biggest earners and his previous injury history is enough to suggest extending the midfielder would be a risk.
I think a big part of what happens will revolve around Partey himself. He will likely receive offers from abroad that will be far more lucrative and longer than what Arsenal will offer him, even if they choose to offer him new terms.
This will leave him with a big decision to make as he approaches the final stages of his career.
I know Partey is happy at Arsenal, but that doesn't mean he will stay if he gets a better offer elsewhere.
But what his performances this season have shown is that when fully fit, he can still play a key role in Arsenal's team.
He has been Arsenal's best midfielder, there is no doubt about that and that is why there is always a lot of frustration from fans when he is asked to fill in at right-back by Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal need to shake things up a bit in midfield. Like Partey, Jorginho's contract will expire in the summer and I think he will definitely leave.
Mikel Merino has come in and done a good job, but the jury is still out on this signing. He's a classy player and I think he has a lot to offer, but it's been a slow start to his Arsenal career and he needs to show that he can have a bigger impact on games when he plays, especially in the final. third.
I haven't seen enough from him yet to think he can make himself a guaranteed starter over the next couple of seasons. An important player in the team, yes. But not more than that.
So at least one new addition will certainly be needed in the central areas over the next two windows, even if Partey ends up staying.
