With Arsenal fans beginning to enjoy their summers and the excess sun that we have had lately, there remains a feeling of disappointment and regret as we look back to the campaign that Arsenalmanager Mikel Arteta had in 2024/25.
European progress was a joy with the side doing well in the Champions League and ultimately, only losing out to 5-0 trophy winners Paris Saint-Germain, and yes as we all know we finished in the runners up spot in the Premier League, but our continuing lack of a died in the wool striker and the sheer number of draws that we picked up in the domestic campaign, is on ongoing topic for discussion that leads to frustration. Naturally as goalkeeping legend David Seaman hosted his recent Betway sponsored, Seaman Says podcast, and welcomed former Gunners and England colleague Ian Wright into the chair, these topics were again front and centre in both of their thoughts.
As we prepare for the coming 2025/26 season, there is plenty of talk on the transfer window speculation rumour mill that we will finally solve the long standing striker question and we all know the names that continue to do the rounds, whether that be Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko or one of the many other favoured media links, but Wright is fully on board that we need to come up with a solve and then add a couple of fresh faces elsewhere on the pitch to improve the overall group once again.
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“I think that mentality-wise, [the squad] is very strong and it’s going to be vital who he adds to that group. Apparently Zubimendi’s there, they’re talking about Gyokeres. Whether it’s Sesko, I don’t know who it’s going to be, but I believe that we need a main striker, another forward, I’ll probably have a backup centre-half. We just need a couple more and I think that we need a bit of luck with the injuries and the referees. I just think we’re so close and these three second places are part of the journey. For a fan, as frustrating as it is. Hopefully when you do finally get over the line, then you look back at these and it doesn’t matter so much.”
The 61 year old pundit did add that on the centre half front he had hoped that we would make a quick and early move for AFC Bournemouth’s two capped Spanish international Dean Huijsen, but La Liga giants Real Madrid were quicker on the draw there and he felt that this was disappointing as he thought he was the perfect candidate for our style.
Addressing the title specifically, Wright was even more bullish.
“I think they’ll win the Premier League next season because I want them to do that and I believe that they’re getting closer. I think it’s unlucky this season, simply the injuries and some of the decisions. But they’re going to need to make some signings to give them all a boost in there. But I’m going to go with Arsenal to win the League again. Absolutely.”
Fans out there will certainly be hoping that Wright’s confidence when it comes to us finally getting over the line once again will come quickly, and that it will definitely prove to be the perfect tonic for the disappointments that we have had in recent seasons given how close we have pushed it at points, but he is right, sort out the goal scoring issue and we should more than be there or thereabouts.
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