Arsenal will finish trophyless for the fifth consecutive year after Mikel Arteta's side were knocked out of the Champions League in the semi-finals by Paris Saint-Germain
Comments
Sport
15:44, 08 May 2025
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta knew that he'd made the mistake of not buying a striker when the Gunners made a 'last-minute' bid to sign Ollie Watkins in January. That's what Arsenal supporters have been told by former Premier League striker Chris Sutton in the wake of Wednesday's Champions League exit.
Over both legs of their semi-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal missed a series of chances to score which may well have been converted by a natural No.9. Injuries to first-choice striker Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, himself an attacking midfielder by trade, left Arteta without a recognised centre forward for the biggest period of the season.
Midfielder Mikel Merino ended up leading the line and despite scoring in the first leg of their quarter-final against Real Madrid and netting six goals domestically, the Spaniard's efforts weren't enough. After scoring just one of their 20 efforts on goal in Paris, Sutton reckons that Arteta's decision not to sign a striker at the start of this season has come back to haunt him.
The ex-Blackburn Rovers star is also certain that Arsenal's £60million bid for Watkins in the final days of the January transfer window proves that Arteta had realised his mistake. "Arsenal were competitive in both legs," Sutton said on the It's All Kicking Off podcast. "But I thought PSG were the better team and the Gunners deserved to go out.
"Will there be regrets? Well, Arteta has been there for five years now, and I think it's glaringly obvious to look at Arsenal not bringing in a striker last summer.
READ MORE: Arsenal target FOUR major signings as part of massive summer overhaulREAD MORE: Mikel Arteta got it wrong about Arsenal - and Lamine Yamal proved exactly why
"At this level, it's fine margins. They made that last-minute play for Ollie Watkins in the January window, which I think was an admission they had got things wrong. Five seasons now with Arteta: I think there are definitely things he could have done that would have given Arsenal a better chance of winning silverware."
Sutton, though, believes that Arteta has taken the Gunners to the brink of greatness over his five years in charge. "Arsenal's display in the first 25 minutes at the Parc des Princes was phenomenal," he added.
Which striker should Arsenal sign in the summer transfer window? Give us your pick in the comments section.
PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 7: A dejected Mikel Arteta manager / head coach of Arsenal applauds the fans with his team at full time after being knock out during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final Second Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal FC at Parc des Princes on May 7, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta hasn't won a trophy since his first season at Arsenal(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
"They're not a million miles away. I don't the issues are on the pitch. I think they've made mistakes off the field in terms of recruitment.
"What happened this season happened; they've finished trophyless. What happens next is the important thing. Arteta must be thinking along the same lines as me – they weren't proactive enough as they should have been in the market."
Join our new WhatsApp community* *and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.