Arsenal must sign a new striker if they are to win the Premier League, with Gabriel Jesus ‘not living up to expectations’.
That is the opinion of Micah Richards after the Gunners were pipped to the title by Manchester City after a dramatic final day of the season.
A 2-1 win over Everton wasn’t enough for Mikel Arteta’s side who agonisinglyfinished just two points behind City despite experiencing one of the best seasons in the club’s long history.
After coming close in the last campaign, there is a real feeling that it is a question of when, not if Arsenal will win their next Premier League, and some believe that they are only one or two players short of ending their 20-year title drought.
Richards certainly thinks so and has named the two positions Arteta must strengthen in this summer, saying on The Rest is Football podcast: ‘I think they’ve been outstanding.
‘They need a striker. In certain moments, in big games Man City have got an array of talent that can change games. I think Arsenal have done that at times with [Leandro] Trossard.
‘I think Jesus has not lived up to the expectations of what we all thought. So they need a striker and a defensive midfielder as well to play in there with Declan Rice but apart from that I think they’re all good.
‘They need to buy quality rather than quantity so that they don’t disrupt the team too much. But I think they’ve had an astonishing season and are up against Man City who are top of the tree so they can be proud of themselves. Definitely an improvement from last season.’
Though the likes of Trossard, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka have stepped to the mark with goals galore over the past two seasons, many have often cited Arsenal’s lack of a natural No.9 as a point of weakness.
Jesus, signed from City in 2022 for £45million, has provided a respectable but not outstanding 15 goals and 11 assists in 53 league appearances, and has struggled with injury issues.
The Gunners have been linked with the likes of Brentford talisman Ivan Toney and Sporting Lisbon forward Viktor Gyokeres.
‘I think they [Arsenal] have done really, really well and they are improving. If they can get another couple of players in, particularly a main centre-forward then they’ll go again next year,’ Premier League legend Alan Shearer added.
‘I know they’ll be bitterly disappointed that they’ve come away with nothing but they can be very proud and very pleased with their season bearing in mind we’re talking about greatness here with Pep Guardiola and with that team and what they’ve achieved.
‘They’re up against an incredible manager and an unbelievable team. So for Arsenal to go toe-to-toe until the very last day of the season I think that’s an achievement in itself.
‘It’ll hurt them there’s no doubt because that’s the prize they wanted. They’ve got to somehow use that hurt that they’re feeling and use that as a positive next season.’
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