Alan Shearer has made it clear that Arsenal must sign at least two big names in this summer's transfer window and that one of those has to be a striker.
Following Wednesday's Champions League exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain, the Gunners have little to play for in their final three games of the 2024/25 season.
Though Mikel Arteta and his players will certainty still want to beat Liverpool, Newcastle and Bournemouth before the end of May, for the majority of supporters and sporting director Andrea Berta, the upcoming trading period is the focus.
With that in mind, links to several players have ramped up as of late and an agreement in principle for Martin Zubimendi is now in place which makes it likely he is their first summer addition.
Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko and Alexander Isak are the strikers of interest to Arsenal with Shearer making it clear what must happen.
“If Arsenal get a striker in, I do think Arteta is the man to get them over the line," he admitted to Betfair. "I haven't changed my opinion from the start of the season when I said that if they were to get a top striker then I believe they'd be challenging for everything.
"I do think that if they can rectify that problem then yes Arteta can do but it's been a poor season because of their very high standards. They want and have to win things.
“I know they won the FA Cup five years ago, but for Arsenal, they were second best in the Champions League, Carabao Cup and the Premier League so it doesn't take a genius to work out what they need to do.
“I'd think Arsenal need to sign two or three big-hitters and a striker definitely needs to be at the top of their list. That has to happen for Arsenal to reach the next level and win the Champions League or Premier League.
“The problem they've got now is that there are so many other clubs looking for strikers now as well. They'll be in a really congested market. Liverpool, Man United and Chelsea will all need a striker, so Arsenal will be in a congested market.”
A striker looks set to be at the top of the club's agenda this summer ."I have to make it more clear. In January it was clear or not? I told you, because you were in the room I think many times. "I made a very clear statement and the statement continues the same," Arteta said.
"I want the best team, the best players. "If we have three goalscorers over 25, bring them in, we're going to be a much better team, yes.
"Probably they are (the most difficult players to sign), because there's not that many who have put those numbers. "I mean, it's something that's in the start, there's not that many in the Premier League, and to do that.
"We'll try to improve, but certainly improve the ones that we have right now, and love the ones that we have right now."
Join the football.london Arsenal WhatsApp channel
Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
Join our Arsenal WhatsApp channel and get all the latest breaking news, opinion, podcasts and in-depth stories from football.london's dedicated Arsenal writers straight to your phone!
By following this free service you will be the first to know the news from the Emirates Stadium as it happens, when it happens.
To join our dedicated Arsenal channel, all you have to do is click this link and you can join thousands of others following our Gunners coverage!
If you're curious, you can check out our privacy policy here.