Arsenal had the opportunity to win the Premier League title in the past 2 seasons and the just-concluded Premier League season, but Arsenal failed to win the Premier League title. I don't know if Arsenal will be able to win the Premier League title next season because Manchester City and Chelsea, who performed poorly this season, are busy in the transfer window overhauling their squads, which could make the Premier League more competitive next season, and if Arsenal doesn't perform well, they will even find it difficult to end in the second position in the Premier League next season.
Arsenal always finishing as runner up signifies how strong they are in the premier league. They are not playing lesser than they use to that’s why they can maintain that position. Finishing in the same position every season also signifies that they are missing out on something very crucial that is stopping them from attaining the highest levels in the game. Manchester City and Chelsea will try to play better to replace them from that position this season if there not careful. They know better what is missing in the squad, they need to visit the transfer market and make that addition to the squad if they really want the next season to be better for them and be in a position to contend for the league title more than they use to.
When Man City experienced a setback, it was actually the best momentum for Arsenal to win a trophy. But unfortunately, for several reasons Arsenal still haven't succeeded, one of them is because they don't have a sharp pure striker. Arteta also had to lose Saka, Havertz and Gabriel Jesus due to injury, which made it quite difficult for them to create balance between the Premier League and Champions League.
For next season, Arteta certainly has to struggle to overcome these weaknesses, Arteta must not miss the opportunity to recruit a striker and polish his rotation options. Personally, if Arteta can do it, Arsenal chances of winning a trophy next season are still quite high. But on the other hand, if Arteta still doesn't succeed, personally I think he deserves to be fired.
The striker problem is why Arsenal got stuck playing "what-if" in the third consecutive season. When Man City slipped, it was all there to be taken, but the absence of a true goal-scorer up front (after Havertz and Jesus were both on the physio table) left Arsenal toothless in too many games. It is not about one guy missing. Their whole front line was swept away at once. That is how you end up 14 draws and lose points to teams you are supposed to dominate. The balance problem you mentioned? Precisely that: you can not play the league and the UCL with that many key attackers out, no matter how good your tactical system is
The major thing next season is how they go aggressive in the market. And if they continue to be indecisive like they did last year: failing to sign Ollie Watkins, hesitating between Isak and Gyokeres, dragging negotiations out,... then nothing gonna change. When they become decisive, when they sign a real world-class striker, and when they stop running Saka into the ground, they will be right there with Liverpool and City. But you’re right: one more season of coming up short, and the pressure on Arteta will be enormous