Two Premier League legends have revealed how the Arsenal squad must be feeling about the club's failure to buy a top striker.
Mikel Arteta's men have endured an underwhelming season in the league, with Liverpool growing more and more likely to lift the trophy in May. The Gunners have regressed on several fronts, failing to capitalise on their impressive second-place finish last season and win the Premier League for the first time in 21 years.
A significant factor in their struggles this season has been the absence of an out-and-out striker, which became even more glaringly obvious after four of their key forwards – Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz – were sidelined with injuries after Christmas.
Despite the clear need for a striker, Arteta and former sporting director Edu Gaspar did not sign one last summer, having missed out on Newcastle's Alexander Isak and RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko. Even though Arteta wanted to bring in Aston Villa's star Ollie Watkins during the January window to bolster the team's title hopes, the board decided to hold onto their funds until this summer after a £60million bid was turned down.
Now, with Arsenal’s title hopes seemingly dead in the water, the Gunners must focus on their Champions League quarter-final matchup against Real Madrid – their only remaining chance to land silverware this term.
And former Sunderland star Kevin Phillips – winner of the Premier League's 1999/2000 Golden Boot with 30 goals – claims the current Arsenal players have been let down in their desperation for Arteta to bolster the squad with a proven striker.
Having grown up as an Arsenal fan, Phillips shared his thoughts on the Seaman Says podcast, brought to you by Betway, saying: “We ask the same question every day. Being an Arsenal fan as well – why you haven't gone out and just splashed the money and got that centre forward.
“Because you do that – someone like an Isak or an Ollie Watkins, born goalscorers and that's all they live for – and Arsenal are in with a right chance of winning the League. So I'm sure it will get addressed in the summer. I hope it does."
Discussing how the current Arsenal squad would have felt this season behind the scenes, he continued: “We've been in dressing rooms where a manager makes a signing and you're like 'oh, yeah! Delighted!' That gives everyone a lift, a buzz. And you can't tell me those Arsenal players are not thinking behind the scenes that ‘we need a striker, gaffer, we need a striker. Someone put the ball in the back of the net.’ So it's going to be that ongoing question until they do go and get someone who's out there.”
Manchester United’s iconic striker Dwight Yorke echoed Phillips’ feelings, adding Sesko’s name to Isak and Watkins’ as strikers that could have handed Arsenal a significant boost.
Arsenal face a tough task if they are to chase down Liverpool
Arsenal players became "deflated" after the club failed to bring in a striker this season (Image: AP)
Yorke believes that the Arsenal players were left "deflated" by their lack of forward signings in January, which he feels contributed to their subsequent dip in form.
Speaking to Casinobeats.com, Yorke said: “I think it was clear to everybody who was watching that Arsenal needed to really energise their team with a big name signing, a big personality coming in to the club to really give the place a lift because that can be enough to get you over the line. In January, February, March, it's when the season is really testing, and you need to be at full pelt to get through those phases.
“I feel when you look at what happened at Arsenal in the transfer window, that has been so disappointing for them that even the players got deflated. The supporters are now deflated. I think it stemmed from that, and it shows in their performances.
Alexander Isak celebrates scoring against Arsenal
Signing Alexander Isak would have boosted Arsenal's title pursuit (Image: Getty)
“It’s a strange one. I just think that Arsenal should have really gone out on a limb to try to get someone. I looked at Benjamin Sesko, and he's a good player as well. I think him and Isak are the two players that I would have tried to sign to give you some kind of momentum going into the latter stage of the season.”
Looking towards the summer, Arteta is likely to correct Arsenal’s past mistakes by signing one of the three aforementioned players in the transfer window. However, other talents such as Victor Osimhen, Jonathan David and Dusan Vlahovic have also been linked with a move to the north London club.
The imminent arrival of former Atletico Madrid sporting director Andrea Berta is expected to provide Arsenal with a massive boost in their transfer dealings.
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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
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