Olivier Giroud sent the Arsenal away contingent into raptures as he headed in an equaliser against Manchester City, just two minutes after Sergio Aguero had given them the lead. It was Giroud’s first Premier League goal in 15 games and he celebrated by cupping his ear in the direction of the jubilant Gunners fans.

The striker, who has been the target of criticism over the past few weeks as Arsenal's title challenge has disintegrated, had reacted in the same way just a week previous when he set-up Danny Welbeck’s winner against Norwich.

Many of the concerns directed at the 28-year-old have been justified. Is the Frenchman really good enough to lead the club’s forward line and why has manager Arsene Wenger persisted with him when his confidence is clearly at an all-time low? Some would say Giroud partly answered those questions with his 10th-minute header, but, for most Arsenal fans, the fact that he was unable to find the net in 15 games shows that he’s not good enough to lead the line for a team who want to challenge on all fronts.

Indeed, it was City’s star men who showed Giroud and co how to finish as Aguero and De Bruyne netted either side of the half for Manuel Pellegrini’s men. When the going gets tough for Arsenal, they are usually bailed out by talismanic figure Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean started and finished off an excellent attack on 68 minutes as he came up trumps with a crucial equaliser in front of the away fans.

It was Sanchez’s 17th goal of the season - not a bad tally for a man who has played much of the season in second gear due to a post-Copa America hangover. The game at the Etihad Stadium was a battle fought mostly in midfield and Fernandinho was allowed to run through acres of space as City’s exciting options in attack continuously threatened the Gunners in the final third.

Arsenal’s need for a top class striker has been common knowledge for a long time now. Even Wenger himself must be aware that Mesut Ozil has created a league-high 127 goalscoring chances this season. It would be unfair to lay the blame for Arsenal’s title collapse entirely on Giroud’s shoulders but he will certainly look back on this campaign as one which he should have contributed more to.

The other forward options Wenger has at his disposal haven’t set the world alight either, although Welbeck’s recent return to form may have been cut short with the news that he has sustained a knee injury. Similarly, Joel Campbell, a player who has impressed in spells when given a chance in attack, hasn’t been involved since a seven-minute cameo against West Brom last month.

So who is available for Arsenal? Juventus forward Alvaro Morata has been strongly linked with a summer move to north London, although it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Chelsea snap up the former Real Madrid man. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is out of contract at Paris Saint-Germain but the 34-year-old's high wage expectations are likely to put off the usually prudent Wenger.

There are definitely players who can improve this Arsenal team and it’s no surprise to hear that the club are working hastily on deals ahead of what is expected to be a busy summer.

Signing a striker won’t fill the missing piece in the jigsaw for Arsenal, but it would certainly go a long way to improving the Gunners chances of winning their first major title in over a decade. Times are clearly changing in north London as it looks like Tottenham could finish above their arch rivals for the first time in 21 years. A Premier League season without a ‘St Totteringham’s Day’ is almost unheard of in those ends and you can sense the disappointment among the fans when they look at the league table.

Will Wenger and his team acquire the players Arsenal clearly need this summer? There’s no doubt that there will be transfer activity, but it remains to be seen whether it will be enough against the Guardiolas, Contes and Klopps of next season.