The vast majority of Arsenal fans are just that—fans. They are not managers or licensed coaches, but that does not mean they cannot see what is wrong with Arsenal right now. You really do not need to be Pep Guardiola to see what the team desperately needs: a proper elite striker.
Former managers and players are saying exactly the same thing. Just do a search on the internet, and you will find an abundance of former professionals all saying the same. It is not just Gooners who are screaming out for a striker, but for some reason, that does not seem to be part of the thinking at the Emirates.
Do we really think that Kai Havertz will supply the goals to lift silverware this season? Or Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, or whoever else Mikel Arteta puts in the number nine position?
It is so glaringly obvious what Arsenal is missing, and yet it has not been addressed properly since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left the club. I cannot, for the life of me, understand why not.
It has to be said: it really is negligence if we do not sign a proper striker this month.
I get the arguments about the January transfer window, but other elite clubs have gone out in the winter window and strengthened. Man City is doing it right now, for example.
Ask yourself this: would an elite striker have scored the goals that Havertz has missed recently? The misses against Manchester United and Newcastle United were almost criminal, especially in yesterday’s game against United.
There is a direct correlation between success and goals—it always has been and always will be. Therefore, if you do not have an elite striker, you are very unlikely to win any major silverware.
Remember, every trophy we have ever won—including our most recent trophy, the FA Cup—we had a top striker up front. It is no coincidence that we have fallen short in recent seasons while lacking that striker.
Yes, we had the goals last season, but we won nothing because, when the crucial moments required a killer in front of goal, we did not have one.
Anyway, enough of my whining. Let me know in the comments your opinion on this subject.
Some on here told us this season Havertz will outscore Haaland. Their projection was 26 goals.
He is Arsenal highest score yes but I dont see how is that a complement, a player can score 1 goal and be club’s highest goalscorer if they have only one goal.
Someone here yesterday made a comparison with Nikola Pepe. It’s true it’s not his fault the club paid so much for him. He will do what he is capable of. He might even be the victim of micro management.
That to me sums up our fanbase
Arrogance
Thinking we are better then we are
Jesus is injured again and Havertz’s finishing was shocking yesterday
But it would be a miracle if Kroenke sanctions a new CF purchase this month, because he’s spent almost £800m for player transfers without any major trophy in return
Arteta would likely have to promote a youngster to deputize with Havertz and hopefully Nwaneri will return soon to do the job
imo, the only way ownership sanctions a new CF (or significant funds for any addition) is if the top four is seen to be in major jeopardy by not doing so.
If that’s the case, I hope Jesus’ injury isn’t serious
@Gai
Owners can sign CF in January depending on their target for the season. It has not been made open the target set for Arteta. Imo, by end of season it would become clearer based on how the Kroenke rates Arteta’s performance, either they renew his contract or let him go. It’s almost certain after five years Arteta’s performance will be analysed because the Kroenkes are business people. You don’t spend millions on buying players without expecting trophy/targets/Results.
Personally as a fan, after five years with a coach without a major trophy, I will like a gamble on another coach. Arteta is Arsenal coach today because they took a chance with him despite him lacking in experience.
You’re right. The transfer window is still open, so anything could happen
Do need to point out that shame on those who abused Havertz family on social media
And if any are Gooners you dont deserve to see your team win
Even threatening to kill his wife’s unborn child. How sick can you get? Police have been informed and are investigating.
I would not consider those things human beings let alone Arsenal supporters.
He is doing his best, it is not his fault he is not good enough.
That is terrible. The price of fame for being a professional footballer. How sickening
Xhaka all over again. It’s up to the coach if the player is not performing well enough to find better alternative or change formations. A player will perform to the limit of their capabilities.
If one is dissatisfied with how things are going they should speak through their wallets instead of threatening innocent people.
Totally agree Dan,
While I don’t rate Havertz very highly, never have and never will.
To see that his family have been abused on social media makes me wonder about the mentality of these so called fans.
While you can get upset with the player’s failings and give your opinion on said player, that doesn’t give you the right to abuse the player or his family in any way shape or form.
What a sad world we live in sometimes.🙄🤷♂️🤦♂️😣
👍
The world’s gone mad Jax!!
I just hope they find the culprit t(s) name and shame him or her, ban them from every football ground in the country and give them a long custodial sentence.
Claiming to be Arsenal fans
I hope Wednesday we all get behind him
Counter productive not too
Atmosphere at Emirates been shocking recently by the way
Wishing evil on Kai Havertz and family or any other player should be strongly condemned and simply unacceptable.
I still feel if Arteta utilized the funds for last summer transfer window wisely, we wouldn’t be crying for a striker at this point in the season.
Personally I think we need another left back.
I feel that the reason Arteta got that pay rise was to take the flak .
The owners are not interested in winning a trophy 🙄
Top 4 will do and no questions will be asked until we drop out of the CL places .
With only an inexperienced acting Sporting Director we didn’t stand much chance of bringing a good new striker.. I think Ferguson on loan would be a decent cheap punt to see us through until summer window when even Haaland might be available.
Halland would never join us
Again arrogance
Jax,
If he did become available, do you really think he would join our rabble.
Exactly
DEREK. Nope, I think he’d go to Spain. But can always hope.
It’s naive
Would never consider us
Would be a backwards step
Dan,
With the way we play, don’t you mean sideways step.😂🤣😉👍
Jax,
Hope springs eternal, as they say.😉👍
I’m just waiting to see what happens this month if anything with transfers
It’s possible that Liverpool could drop points this weekend so we have a must win game
Title race is over Steph I’m afraid
Agree. On top of not playing well, we just don’t have enough starters to compete and overcome a 9 point deficit. We don’t have a solution in our squad to our goal scoring problem
The season is done and it’s all about damage control (still get 4th). I wouldn’t expect anything unless Kroenkes feel we might not get top 4. It was negligence to have Saka as our only RW option for several seasons, it was negligence to have no Odegaard backup, negligence to think Kai is a reliable forward. All the mistakes Edu and Mikel have made is coming back to bite them this season
I felt before the Saka injury that we needed a striker, and a winger. God’s knows how many we need now with Saka, and Jesus’s seasons likely over, and Nwaneri out for a while, and not to mention the shocking form of the rest of our attackers.
We basically have no attack anymore.
Why pick on Kai? Two reasons not to.
Kai, like Holy Gabi, wants to be no.9 for club and country, but at this stage of his career, he’s not natural enough at 9. His value is he can also play on either flank, at 10 and at 8 – it’s the management, with Kai’s own ambition, persisting with him for goals at 9 – to the point it’s become like watching someone trying to tighten a screw using a maggot.
If someone wants to say, Man City won titles without a recognised number 9 – yes it true. But they had recognised other 5 players scoring at least 10 goals at the time, and this is the equation that has fallen apart for Arsenal this season – no prolific 9, but no weight of goals from either flank, 10 or 8 as well. Form and cutting edge left the dressing room with Saka. Kai’s getting the blame, but it’s Ode, speedy Gabi, Wooly, Dec, racoon, not providing form and cutting edge either that they are capable of this season – Kai taking the flak for their not turning up.
LEAVE HIM ALONE 😠
Kai offers genuine muscle, stamina, and run through wall attitude, 3 things that can’t be said for everyone else. Take Kai out the firing line, play him either flank, or at 8 or 10. That’s the way to get the best from Kai’s undoubted talent – move him around.
If Ode isn’t available, or fit to be out there as he clearly wasn’t for at least half the match yesterday, play Kai at 10. That’s where he was massive success in Germany before Chelsea move in first place.
It’s clear to me Arsenal are not making a big striker signing this January, because they haven’t been setting one up. They have been setting up a defender and perhaps goalkeeper, they might still sign a defender.
I’m of the opinion very big transfers deals take months of work these days, because of scrutiny and rules, the old days cash was flown out to med hotels in brief cases to complete deals quickly, and not even transfer windows in those days. We knew Rice had chosen to leave Hammers in summer and join Arsenal, in the spring before it happened, it still took 2 clubs most the summer window to thrash the big deal and payments out, and make payment.
It’s clear to me Ben Sesko is joining Arsenal in the summer window – not on the cheap as we wanted before – and he did look a bit raw to me in the summer euro’s. But Sesko is the signing the club have been finalising in the background all this while – both club and player have chosen each other now, and the timing is this summer.
Until then, we just have to make do and mend. Sterling is an option in middle, as is racoon.
There ain’t that much wrong if the defence stays miserly – provided some other players can find better form and bring cutting edge.
And you know this how?
Have you inside information???
MoonGirl,
Our defense has not been a problem for the past two seasons really.
So for Arteta to waste even more money on the likes of Calafiori, and merino just beggars belief really.
We’ve been crying out for a striker and better cover for Saka for three seasons now.
And Arteta’s refusal to address this glaring problem, will hopefully speed up his exit from the club.
Then maybe the new manager will actually address the real issues the current squad has.
Looking at the record calendar year 2024 the club has just had, and comparing against where we were at 3 and 4 seasons ago, your analysis is we are on the wrong track and need to make manager and coaching sackings?
😂
MoonGirl,
If your happy having a manager who has for the past three seasons refused to address the glaringly obvious, then fare play to you.
But in my eye’s Arteta’s refusal to address these issues amount to negligence on his part.
But if your happy, then I’m happy for you.
Arsenal doesn’t even have a full time sporting director right now. It’s very unlikely that an interim guy will even have enough trust from the owners to do a massive deal. And tbh, I wouldn’t trust Arteta with another red cent of my money if I was Kroenke. The Havertz deal should have been the end of any autonomy or voice he has in picking players. £64 million for a guy you dont know what his best position is? I do……LEFT OUT.
They should investigate those threatening Kai’s family and serve them what they need or deserve.
To the writer, any lethal CF that truly knows his onions will not sign up for Arsenal right now why? Arteta’s virus 🦠/bug will make him go into oblivion right now. Please people should wake up and accept that the season is over and it went early, it’s a hard pill to swallow because we never envisaged from the beginning although I did when I saw Arteta’s perchant for Chelsea’s & City’s rejects directly or indirectly. I’ll not blame Kronke if he refuses to release funds this January because there’s no guarantee that the manager whom he gambled his faith on turned to be a junk dealer.
The only trophy won till date came from the players he inherited, 99% of the the current team are his signings without a lethal CF and the team has no single trophy 🏆 to justify the whooping £700m+ spent. Right now the players are going through low self esteem and ebb courtesy of the arrogant manager inverted tactics, who assumes to know more than he actually knows. It’s only in Arsenal that you’ll see a manager taking the club, players and fans for granted the way Arteta is doing with impunity. He’s doing it and getting away with it because Kronke shouldn’t have been the one to own or run a Premier League club, it’s not just only about balancing the AC book but the books – Trophies, Players and Fans that buys season long tickets and seats ahead. As poor as Ten Hag was he landed 2 trophies within 2 seasons and was still sacked. Pep and Klopp did not spend more than 2 seasons for the trophies to start coming in. If Stan Kronke fails to drop Arteta at the end of the season he too should as a matter of urgency also put up the club for sale let those that have passion for football buy it over for the HURTING IS TOO MUCH FOR ARSENAL FANS, though some may say otherwise.
arsenal need help arteta anyway if they have questions about arteta why they renew his contract if they believe to continue with they have to help him woth funds look our rivals they are splashing the cash whatever the conditions with thier manager signing the striker it is not only Arteta s demand the new manager will ask u over Arteta demand
I know what you are saying. A lot of transfer gabble tends to be about the market at the moment, which might not be the right fit. Supporting the manager – board and fans – means going deeper and longer to get the right piece of the jigsaw.
Gyokeres just gets his head down and goes, like team mates don’t exist, Prem defences would love that and lie in wait for him, it would be a gamble how many he scores for a top team in a premiership season – anything from 1 to 15 tops, probably – which is why I predict he is not coming to Premiership.
Isak has proved you can buy goals, but that boat has sailed for us when, like Neto moving to Chelsea, other Prem sides balked at Isak fitness record year on year – remains to be seen how many of the remaining games Isak plays this season.
Ditto Osimhen for injury record, he is gung ho on steroids likely even worse than Holy Gabi for finding ways to crock himself.
If those expensive players are instant answers, they come with plenty of questions.
A few home truths on no. 9 in the modern game. If number 9 is just a finisher, like the Man City one, and doesn’t join up play and lead the press, then you can win nowt even with the very best finisher – like Man City can win nowt this season, now defence is a problem and they concede too many.
Yes. Modern football is all about defence, and quickly into 11 man transition sucking up all the space available to opponents offence. There’s barely 4 top notch number 9’s in the whole of Europe at the moment, who can offer more than finishing to this Arsenal team. Haaland has proved he don’t offer more than goals, he is not one of them, whilst Gyokeres hasn’t proved he can play in the Premiership – he was here, the Premiership let him go over there as they could see he was a head down player, without vision at joining in the “space finding team game” that is modern football.
I think it is terrible to wish harm on a havtiz. Family and baby it is disgusting. Those so called arsenal fans or any others so called fans should be banned from football stadium s for life .yes arsenal do need to sign a out and out striker .and winger .if arsenal do not win any trophies this season then the arsenal board need to look else where for a manager . From gunnerleigh
kai is no striker. he is a proper 10 .odegarad is a 8 or 6. merino is a 6. Wenger had 4 Strikers .now we have known. Buy 2 Strikers Valhovic or Gyokeres and take either of Nkunku or Mulani on loan with option or obligation to buy. We need Strikers not 1 but 2.
You can’t buy all of them, financial rules don’t allow it. That’s a fair point?
And if we could, and did, how do we ever find out if Nwaneri is as or good or even better striker than them? That’s a fair consideration too.
Your point about “the proper 10” though is good.
How often are players picked on for lack of goals, when their constant movement and challenging for balls, opened it up for team mates in a winning team?
You can see it, obviously, being a Prophet, but why are we the only ones who can see this? I can see it from the moon.
If Kolo Muani is available, as it seems he is, can’t we go for him on loan?
I’m sure we stand a better chance of getting him than his other touted suitors, the likes of Milan and Manchester United
How do we keep playing with trossard and martenelli, even they will get tired or injured at some point. so we should at least get a winger even if it is on loan or am i the only one seeing that we are seriously lacking in attack.
“ am i the only one seeing that we are seriously lacking in attack.”
If you look at the record number of premiership goals scored by the team in the last two seasons,, and the huge number of often very good chances created against Newcastle and Man Utd, what are you saying is seriously lacking, how would you put your finger on it?
It’s conversion into goals, that was proven there before, and for this form has deserted more than just one player.
To me after the last window it was obvious that the most important position – a reliable striker who can score when all else fails, irrespective how much we have the ball – was not filled. We should have got Gyokeres, we would not be in the current position and until this is addressed properly, we just going to be a wanna be, not trophy collectors. rather said, but reality.
“We should have got Gyokeres”
It’s as easy as buying a toffee apple is it?
You don’t have any doubts about Gyokeres as a Prem striker? He’ll simply rack up at any top Prem team, fit in straightaway, and have no problem hitting 15 goals in q league with less time and space to work in than he’s ever experienced before? No doubts about his, vision, teamwork, passing, or pace? He is certainly a solid lump like Haarland, but nowhere near Haarlands pace or technical abilities.
Sure there are doubts about Gyokeres and his production if he joined Arsenal.
One thing I feel strongly about though, he would not miss the sitters that we see Havertz and Jesus missing time after time after time.
He may not be the perfect answer (I prefer Sesko and what he can do for us long term), but Gyokeres is a far better finisher than either Havertz or Jesus, without question.
MoonGirl,
Anyone’s an improvement on Havertz. 🙄🤦♂️
100% agree….😃
Remember when some Gooners argued Havertz will score more then Halland and Mbappe wouldn’t fit into our team
Arrogance knows no bounds
No one seriously said that. Kai isn’t, and never will be that type of player.
But remember the invincibles season was built on the amount of pressing Henry did. Havertz style is that running at and challenging for every loose ball, that opens things up for colleagues. Other than false 9 he should play 10, wide and 8 more regularly, where he can be just as valuable at what he brings to team performance, whilst no less as goal threat, as CL winners medal shows.
You are new here. They said it and they were serious. I don’t remember the names but it was the usual Arteta apologists of this site.
“Because he has scored 13 goals in half a season of being striker, he will score 26 goals in full season as a striker.”
26 goals from Kai just crazy analysis.
Kai will get goals again when the whole side gets out its rut has its mojo back – they are all missing chances right now, not just him – but he is not a 20 goal regular each season striker. The big But is you are not going to get a title without a Kai somewhere in the line up, running at and challenging for every loose ball – look at the amount of this Henry got through for the invincibles title. Havertz is actually good at that role, he just needs to be used properly and not thought of as the great finisher and always at 9.
If, and big if imo, the last piece of the jigsaw is a great lump at 9 to be the Great Finisher, like Gorkeres perhaps good at finishing but offering little vision or passing ability to build up play, Dušan Vlahović is by far the best “big lump” option. Unlike Gorkeres, Vlahović will be on pens and free kicks, likely would hit about 20 premiership goals a season at one of the bigger Prem clubs.
We will become a worse possession and play making side than currently, if a finisher with as poor a press, vision and passing as Erling Haaland or Gorkeres becomes the number 9. Gorkeres surely now destined for Man Utd in the summer, if they stay up. And he will carry a huge price tag into his first premiership Man U season. I don’t think he’ll completely flop for goals, 14 maybe, but he doesn’t have the technical skill set to be as good in the Prem as Isak, as example.
I still get the vibe it’s all settled already, Sesko is coming to Arsenal this summer, which means a central striker deffo isn’t coming in this January window, despite the media frenzy going on.
They must see in Sesko more technical ability to work with than the other options I guess, as he won’t be the cheapest, and will come as a work in progress.
They also debated we would go unbeaten and that Arteta ‘ revolutionised English Football ‘
Nope they seriously said that and gave the likes of me a hard time for saying it wouldn’t happen
Did the whole … ‘ how do you know , it’s an opinion ‘ debate
We’ll never know with absolutely certainty how well, if at all, Haaland and Mbappe would fit into Arsenal unless they actually became part of the squad. It’s called an opinion whether you, me, or anyone else agrees with it or not. Arrogance? I’ll stop there.
😊 it’s a word that is used too often for what are mostly throw away comments and by people that commented briefly and disappeared. It’s not arrogant to use the word CAN do but it is to say WILL do. But even then, I don’t think everyone has English as a first language and are able to recognise the difference. Some have English as a first language and still get it wrong
By that logic you can say anything lol
But WILL you?
Don’t give arteta any more funds . Hell no
He will likely use it to purchase disasi and chillwel from chelsea !! Remember he repeatedly said we don’t need a striker
It appears I was right, this period after Christmas is actually when the summer transfers get sorted.
Sesko and Zubimendi coming in the summer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meinC9mtZRQ
https://www.facebook.com/reel/481507914556946
The spine of the Arsenal side growing stronger surprisingly quickly in the big scheme of things, when you consider spending rules and only annual summer transfer windows to do the serious signing in.
Raya, Saliba, Zubimendi, Rice, Ode, Sesko – a spine all on youthful side with strongest years ahead of them. Arsenal now miles ahead of Man Utd, Liverpool, and Man City in building the team.
What a breath of fresh air on team building and recruitment in 2020s, compared to the mess the club got itself in that period before Arteta’s appointment?
It appears I was right, this period after Christmas is actually when minds are made up, agreements shook for the summer transfers sorted.
Sesko and Zubimendi coming both now coming to Arsenal in the summer.
That’s spine of the Arsenal side growing stronger surprisingly quickly in the big scheme of things, isn’t it? when you consider the spending rules and only annual summer transfer windows to do the big incoming in.
Raya, Saliba, Zubimendi, Rice, Ode, Sesko – a spine all on youthful side with strongest years ahead of them. Arsenal now miles ahead of Man Utd, Liverpool, and Man City in building the team.
What a breath of fresh air on team building and recruitment in 2020s, compared to the mess the club got itself into that period before Arteta’s appointment?
Arteta was the one who took us 8th
No striker coming in, I’m afraid. Just wide men.
I think I’ve found the solution to our striking problem.
What we need to do, is buy another left back and play him up front.
After all, Arteta is particularly good at playing square pegs in round holes.🤣👍
Havertz got MoM playing left back for Germany, and Zinchenko the same playing number 10 for Ukraine 🙃
MoonGirl,
In one off games, really impressive. Not🙄🤦♂️
Just looked at City’s bench v Brentford, they have a replacement for every position, we don’t even have tat in our first team.
*meant “that” but Freudian slip.
The point is we made a lot of sales and didn’t replace anyone, you cannot play your first team all the time, they need a break and rotation, otherwise you will get injuries, we didn’t have the depth of squad last year, we’ve got even less now.