Arteta Doesn’t Need Another Super Striker, With Gabriel Jesus and Balogun Arsenal’s Attack Is Sorted
Arteta is expected to add a striker to his team in the summer. Arteta, according to many rumours, wants a physical striker, most likely someone like Haaland. The Manchester City forward has transformed the profile of a striker that top Premier League clubs will be wanting to add to their squad; the way Haaland bullies his way to score goals with ease is just spectacular. One may argue that Arsenal would be “unbearable” if they had their own Haaland, but Arsenal icon Ian Wright disagrees. Wright believes that Arteta’s style of play does not require a Haaland-type striker who is simply skilled at tapping in goals, but rather a flexible forward who can not only score goals but also have the technical ability to link up his teammates to score goals. He says this because Arsenal has a system in place that suggests simply changing the profile of their centre forward might disrupt the team’s game.
“[Arteta’s style is that they] progress the ball from the back: Thomas Partey, Odegaard, Saka, Trossard, Martinelli, Jesus—so many different ways to hurt a team,” Wright said to the Athletic.
“As much as I was really pleased to be somebody that was at the time the main goalscorer, and you do want somebody who’s scoring between 15 and 25 league goals a season.
“I believe that when you are able to spread the goals around, people can’t plan for it.
“Of course, you look at Erling Haaland. Magnificent. Amazing what he’s doing, and good luck to him.
“But would I change what we’re doing for somebody who’s scoring goals like that? I don’t know. It may mess up the equilibrium of what’s going on. I’m not sure.”
Wright’s claim makes me wonder why Arsenal needs to spend millions on another elite striker when Gabriel Jesus appears to be adequate. Flo Balogun is another striker with the attacking versatility that Jesus possesses. So, if Arsenal’s assault can be efficient while trusting Jesus and hanging on to Balogun, millions of transfer funds might be saved, which could then be used to close the Rice deal.
Sam P
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In my opinion, we need a towering CF on the bench as an alternative to the small ones
Our coaches and players ran out of attacking ideas after West Ham equalized. Their creativity seemed lacking in the final-third when the opposition put nine players near the penalty box in the last twenty minutes of the game
If we had a dominant CF to do proper hold-up play and to win aerial duels in that area, we could’ve made more chances in the last phase of the game. Jesus, Nketiah, Balogun and Trossard simply lack the physicality to do that
Can we bring back Giroud? The guy is still scoring great important goals. Man I miss him so much now. Damn all of you who mocked him.
Giroud has just extended his contract at AC Milan, but there will be some relatively affordable EPL CFs if Everton, Nottingham Forest, Leicester City or Southampton get relegated
Our priority must be to add strength to our midfield where we lack physicality and pace.We are too dependent on TP and if he does not perform we struggle in that area.Many players including Rice and Caseido have been linked with us, and hopefully at least one of them will join us next season As to buying a towering CF, no thank you.I agree with the sentiments expressed by Ian Wright on this occasion, but if Arteta feels a need for new blood in the front three I would suggest dealing in Balogun and Nelson for Mitoma of Brighton who is as good as any wide player I have seen in the EPL this season.
Agreed. Promote Balogun and give him a chance. We haven’t struggled to score goals this season. We’re right up there with City on GD. Our problem is conceding goals. We need to toughen up our midfield. If we have the cash this summer, that’s where it should go!
Arsenal.Scores.Goals.
Lots of them, and without a dedicated target man type of forward. Wright is just parroting what we’ve been saying here each time one of the writers brings this done-to-death subject up. We have goals all over the pitch, with a likelihood of four players getting into double figures for the season.
Yes, include Eddie & Folorin in the squad, I’m sure they’ll contribute, but don’t switch the plan to accommodate them.
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”
Very true. However, there is no dedicated finisher of quality in the squad. In recent seasons we’ve had to develop the side without one as Abemeyang was another Supermac, albeit without the likeability. Too often Abemeyang missed when it was easier to score, and thus arteta has looked to others to chip in. We have never had though, a title winning side (in my lifetime!) without an established finisher of quality. Kennedy, Smith, Wright, Henry, all knew how to hit the target at any range. You need a ‘sniffer’ to pick up those goals others don’t. Eddie, bless him, is not that player. As such I would suggest we ‘do’ need to look at such a player, as we could do with that option, and we currently don’t have it.
Ha. I can go back to Baker & Radford. But I get your point, if only there was that type of forward available who wouldn’t disrupt the plan. Anyway, if it’s true that Arteta is actually looking to strengthen that position then let’s hope whoever it turns out to be fits.
Oh for a Bergkamp or Wilshire!
The Liverpool, West Ham performances and season’s goal difference suggest to me we are fine in attack. I think we need two top midfielders and a proper RB. Ben white should play reserve right CB behind Saliba and Rob Holding should pack his bags and move on.
With respect, Ben White is one of our top defenders and in my opinion he should be in our first eleven and not used as a back up for Saliba or anyone else.
Agree with you that we don’t need to relegate him to a backup role, but he’s not as good as saliba at CB. He’s doing brilliantly at RB, and we don’t need an ‘upgrade’ there imo.
He’s very much our version of Jon stones at City. Ball playing cb who can do a few different jobs really well, I just don’t see a situation where I’d prefer him to saliba in the CB role. I’d be confident about him starting in a 3 with saliba and Gabriel, though, if we ever went that route.
SamP
I love your Freudian slip in the second paragraph. It was a beauty. 😏
It was indeed. If you ever read the BBC football forums you’ll know many people agree with it too. 😉
Yes and sell Eddie
We need to continue signing high quality players. City will be a threat as usual but I think United could be a huge threat too. They are already very good and probably splash the cash this summer.
The PL is about keeping up with the Joneses
I think it would help to get a prolific striker but Jesus will do if we get a really good backup striker
Yes!
..and Newcastle too
Our priority is indeed midfield but if it’s true that we’re looking at forwards I would say that it is someone who can play more than one role and he’ll cover Saka. I would love us to get a high-quality striker and have him duel it out with Jesus, but we have Nketiah and Balogun so I don’t see Arteta doing that
This is where you do some shopping from a position of strength rather than desperation. If you get the guy you need = super. You can always move Eddie or loan Balogun for another season somewhere in EPL. If there is no deal to be had, you got the 3 guys already and according to some on here that’s ok.
It’s difficult to take some fans seriously when we had one of the best pure centre forwards around in Oliver Giroud and fans chased him away for him to win trophies at Chelsea and Milan. One of the best headers in the game ever combined with silky deft touches is definitely rare gems in football. And he brought in a lot of chick fans into the club.
I believe you need a big physical centre forward when the opposition park the bus and play five across the back. Wont be needed in some games but could be very useful coming off the bench. Either Ivan Toney or Mitrovic spring to mind