Arsenal have been linked with several strikers in recent months as they look to bolster the attacking position in their squad. With Mikel Arteta at the helm, the Gunners are under increasing pressure to win silverware, as failure to do so could lead to significant questions about his future. Despite some strong performances, Arsenal are still a team that has not quite lived up to expectations, especially when it comes to their attack.
Arteta’s side, while performing well at times, have struggled with consistency, and one area that could be improved is their attacking force. Arsenal has been urged to invest in a new striker, yet they have not made such a move in at least two transfer windows. The club, which remains one of the most financially capable in European football, is in a position to strengthen its squad, but the need for a new striker may not be the only requirement.
Arsenal have indeed not consistently had a clinical forward this season. Kai Havertz has been guilty of missing numerous chances in matches, leading many to believe that signing a striker like Alexander Isak could solve the issue. However, focusing solely on a new striker ignores the fact that other attackers in the squad have also struggled to make a significant impact.
Since Bukayo Saka’s injury, the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have not been able to provide the same level of performance that fans have come to expect. While these players undoubtedly have talent, their inability to make decisive contributions to the team in recent weeks highlights a deeper issue within the squad. Arsenal’s attack as a whole has been underwhelming, and it’s clear that simply adding a new striker may not be enough to address the broader issues.
For a new striker to thrive at Arsenal, it may be necessary to replace or rejuvenate some of the current attackers in the squad. If the team remains in its current state, a potential signing like Isak, despite his impressive form at Newcastle, might struggle to find the same level of success at the Emirates. Without the necessary support from his fellow attackers, even a player of Isak’s calibre might find it difficult to perform at his best.
In conclusion, while a new striker could certainly improve Arsenal’s attack, the team’s problems appear to be more than just a lack of finishing ability. The Gunners need to ensure that their whole attacking unit is functioning as a cohesive force, otherwise, even a marquee signing could find it difficult to make an impact. Arsenal may need to focus not only on adding a new striker but also on getting the best out of their current attacking players to truly compete for top honours.
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There are players we need to unload before we even contemplate selling the likes of Trossard, Martinelli and the injured Jesus.Players like Lokonga, Vieira,Zinchenko, Tomi,Jorjinho and perhaps Kwior, are all up for grabs as far as I am concerned.
We also need to sell players while they still have some value though. Out of those listed only Zinny and Kiwior can produce significant funds. It’s a good time for either one of Trossard or Martinelli to go and there’d for sure be a market for one of them to go at a good price. It’s better than them sitting on a bench until they lose all their value. Arsenal do this far too many times and never sell when the iron is still hot.
Out of that lot, Trossard, Martinelli and Kiwior are definite keepers in my opinion. I’d add Reiss Nelson to the sell list too.
add Tierney Tavares and Nelson to the list. so many dummies in this team
Not trying to keep Trossard would be close to madness imo.
Good afternoon, fellow Gooners and Gooneresses. I wholeheartedly agree with this article. I have forever stated I do not believe that Trossard is of suitable quality for any team with aspirations of winning the Premier League. He has most certainly put in some good performances and has done a job for the team but at 29/29 has reached his ceiling and will only decline from here. I see this as more than enough reason to look to offload him at the end of the season.
I am a big fan of Kai Havertz but realise my initial belief that he could go on to emulate RvP may have been somewhat optimistic. However, what Kai has in abundance is effort and it could be this that could ultimately see him perform something of a Joelinton type transition into a proper midfielder. Not one that tries to emulate Odegaard but a combative harasser of opponents in the Joelinton style. We can dream.
Gabriel Martinelli is a forward who were he playing in the 90s would have been a wide right midfielder whose sole responsibility was to beat his man and whip the ball in. Or he may have been a striker playing on the shoulder of his defender. He has the predatory instinct and finishing for it. Sadly, it’s 2025 and we now require more from our forwards. One cannot simply be a winger or it seems a striker. Therefore, Martinelli may have already grown to be the player he will always be. His tunnel vision leaves little room for anything else and I don’t see us transitioning to a good old fashioned 442 to play to his strengths at the expense of everyone and everything else.
Gabriel Jesus is a wonderful footballer but suffers from his own abilities. His greatest attribute is his effort. Pep once described him as the best defender at City and you can see it in the way he plays. Unfortunately for Jesus his best position is RW and for all his wonderful talent he is never going to displace Saka. Should we sell him? I don’t think so. I think when fit he should be dove-tailed with Saka to enable both to always be 100% for all games and not just run them both into the ground with 60+ games of 90 mins every season.
I don’t think I really need to comment on Bukayo Saka or Martin Odegaard. These are players you build a team around not manage to fit into an arbitrary system. The system we currently operate works for the most part with Saka benefitting from Havertz’ selfless work up front.
Arteta has a lot of work to do. This squad has overachieved for the last 2 seasons, benefitting largely from a well coached system orientated style where everyone knows their roles and allowing for players such as Saka and Odegaard to have an element of freedom within that system.
The need for a striker is obvious but one needs to be found to compliment this group not come in and wreck was has worked well for at least 2 seasons. I believe Jonathan David best suits this necessity but we will see. The manager has his heart set of Sesko for whatever reason, even though David has outscored him this season and is an Arsenal fan.
I forgot to include Nwaneri in this lengthy comment that should have been an article. I believe Nwaneri has more than demonstrated his qualities and ability to fill in for Saka to a very high standard. I think this may be his best position, at least for the time being, as it allows him to fully express his skills. In time he could well emulate Foden in his adeptness to play both on either wing and as primary playmaker.
Very good analysis Ben but in practical terms I am pretty sure you would agree with the need to sell players who are injury prone, or have proved to be bad recruits or those who are past their best before we turn our attention to finding upgrades for the likes of Trossard and Martinelli.In simple terms unless we generate funds and reduce the wage bill there will not be scope for us to improve the quality of players who we are currently dependant upon.
Totally agree, Grandad. It’s a difficult period because wholesale upgrades is completely impractical and Arteta has already done that and this is the group of players he is left with. Not a good look. He has done well with this group but much work is needed.
Your penultimate paragraph struck a chord with me.
Glad I was able to write something thought provoking.
But it hasn’t worked in terms of being Champions ?
It’s not working this season either
Squad balance should be our priority.
No need to have a bloated group with no overall cover for the team.
Zinchenko,Kiwior &Tierney should leave.We sign a L.b to be deputised by Skelly.Tomiyasu leaves,we sign a proper R.b to compete with White.(Timber&Calafiori are subs to our C.bs)
Jorginho leaves and we sign a new 10 to compete with Odegaard.
Nwaneri is a capable saka backup.
Trossard leaves, we sign a new L.w to be deputised by Martinelli.
Gabriel leaves then we get a new C.F to be deputised by Kai.
With such a team we can confidently navigate a season.
In essence with the new SP appointed in charge the planning of the squat have to be much better than the actual and past seasons.
Of the actual one for sure Tomiyasu, Tierney, Zinchenko,Kiwior and Jorginho an Sterling will not be around next term for reasons knows by everybody. So that make compulsory to get 6 new players to complete a 23 squat depth including the 2 academy players and not including Jesus due to his long term injury. So if we can incorporate one or 2 additions in this window that will alleviate the enormous task for next summer .A new left wing and a CF are imperative.
With our present attacking options we are still very short of players there and people are talking about trossard leaving. Except we are going to get 2 more attackers, then I don’t see trossard leaving
This opinion piece is NOT truthful. Martinelli has risen to the task, but as is the case with some people, he’s judged on a different standard. Even Saka experiences bad days, Harvetz has never looked like an Arsenal player, Jesus performed way below par since his injury and Declan Rice’s game has flattened from the levels he was producing at his old team. No team pays €100mil for a player to take corner kicks, which he messes up sometimes.
Havertz absolutely looks 100% a modern Arsenal player! As does Martinelli. The manager has done very well recruiting players that fit what he wants the team to do. However, I agree with you regarding Declan Rice.
He is arguably the best purely defensive midfielder in the Premier League but we are choosing to use him as a progressive box-to-box midfielder instead. I can see some logic in this given Rice’s skillset but I agree it makes little sense to drop €100m on a specific type of player only to use him in a completely different way.
I wonder if he is being used in this way by design or because he can while the other DMs can’t. Thomas Partey broke into a sprint very briefly against Wolves and I thought we had a new player and Jorginho is so slow the 90s are catching up with him. The fact Arteta is still chasing Zubimendi suggests he did in fact buy Rice exactly for the purpose he is currently using him for which I find a bit insane. He is similar in style to N’Golo Kante who was a brilliant defensive player and could cover the pitch better than anyone but just doesn’t have enough guile to be effective further forward, like say a Bruno Guimaeres.
@Ben
“The manager has done well recruiting players that fit what he wants the team to do” Now, name for me the players Arteta has recruited, that are no longer playing for us for one reason or another. But mostly due to the fact they didn’t fit in the squad.
It’s more than just new players, we also need a new system to utilize the strengths of players.
Say we get new attacking players, but continue our slow, lethargic build up allowing 11 players to set up defensively before we properly attack?
It’s not just players that need changing, but also the tactics and approach to games.
Management of Arsenal must be very careful about the issue of selling players. My question is, when did Martinelli became a poor player??? From my point of view during 23/24 season other clubs started to double marked Saka and Martinelli, the reason is they know that there is no pressure at centre forward at Arsenal. I don’t think we have a problem with Martinelli or Trossard the problem is the system of refusing to buy a striker. We buy a striker and all our problems will be solved