Arsenal’s Carabao Cup exit at Fleetwood Town on Tuesday night was one of the biggest shocks in the competition’s history, and it also exposed a problem that has been creeping up on them for weeks.

Arsenal were poor, but they did dominate the ball and create plenty of chances against the League Two side. However, they only converted one of those in 90 minutes, through Viktor Gyokeres’ scrappy close-range finish, before losing 5-3 on penalties. It was his first goal for the Gunners since May, ending a 15-game drought. Alongside him, Kai Havertz endured a miserable night and has now gone nine games without scoring.

The champions of England are level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, yet with November almost here, their two senior strikers have just three goals between them across all competitions. With a trip to Liverpool on Sunday, Mikel Arteta may have to try something different.

Arsenal’s striker problem is impossible to ignore

Havertz has been off the pace for a while, but Tuesday was his worst performance in an Arsenal shirt for some time. He headed a Max Dowman cross wide in the first half, was denied from a few yards out by a superb block from Fleetwood’s Rhys Bennett, and twice fired into the side netting when well placed. He could have had a hat-trick, really.

Gyokeres, meanwhile, had taken just two shots all season before Tuesday, and he struggled for much of the game, despite the goal.

Arteta started the pair together at Fleetwood, and it didn’t work, which is no great surprise. We’ve seen it before. On paper, you would think the partnership makes sense and that the profiles of both players complement each other. But in reality, it has never clicked, despite the two being good friends off the pitch.

They’ve now lost the last three games they’ve started together, including the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City earlier this year.

Mikel Merino could be the answer up front at Anfield

So how does Arteta address this concern with such a crucial game coming up away at Liverpool this weekend? Well, the solution could well be Mikel Merino. The Spaniard wasn’t used at Fleetwood, and with Arteta giving updates on Madueke, Rice and Calafiori but not on him, we have to assume that, at least for now, he was simply rested.

Of course, Merino has filled in as a centre-forward before, and his physical presence, aerial ability and intelligent movement could be exactly what Arsenal need at Anfield. Against Everton on Saturday, he showed again how dangerous he is when arriving late in the box, and his work rate without the ball would help Arsenal cope with Liverpool’s pressure.

Arteta has been reluctant to use Merino as a No.9 this season, and with Rice a doubt, he may be needed in midfield. But with neither of his recognised strikers in form, it might be the boldest and smartest call Arteta can make.