Martin Keown has criticised Arsenal’s attacking options, insisting that neither Gabriel Jesus nor Kai Havertz are adequate to meet the club’s ambitions. Speaking after the Gunners’ 3-0 Champions League victory over AS Monaco, Keown argued that Arsenal needs a more prolific striker to capitalize on the chances they create.
In the match, Jesus was handed a rare start but failed to score, while Havertz found the back of the net after coming on as a substitute. Despite the win, many fans felt Arsenal could have built a better goal difference if a more clinical finisher had been leading the line.
The club raised eyebrows during the summer transfer window by not signing a new striker, leaving fans and analysts questioning whether their current options are sufficient. Reflecting on the Monaco match, Keown voiced his concerns on the BBC: “We talk about Havertz and Jesus—they need to score more goals and be more ruthless. There is no doubt about it. I think they could do with that different tool in the box, that player who can find an opportunity out of nothing.”
Keown acknowledged Jesus’s contributions, saying, “Jesus has come with a lot of experience, he has brought a lot to the group, but he wants his goals on the pitch. He has played his part, but Arsenal need that prolific goalscorer to put these opportunities away.”
The lack of a consistent goal threat in key matches has sparked frustration among fans, who share Keown’s belief that Arsenal must address this issue promptly. A new striker capable of converting chances into goals would not only elevate their attacking efficiency but also solidify their status as serious contenders in both domestic and European competitions.
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I agree that we need another prolific finisher. Where I differ with most fans and pundits is that it has to be a striker. You could have a prolific finisher through the middle or from out wide. A good example is Mo Salah who has been one of the best finishers in the world for the better part of the last decade.
And how about Messi and Ronaldo? These two scored a number of goals per season that even world class strikers would only dream of. In their prime,they registered double the numbers that would be considered excellent for elite strikers. We should thus not limit ourselves to strikers when looking for that marquee attacker.
By the way,I think we already have one player who could be more prolific than he is if he were to be given more freedom-Saka. Players like Salah and Palmer don’t have to defend like our wingers do. I believe if Saka was unleashed such that he focused just on attack,he’d score and assisst a lot more.
Spot on
Ferguson ordred once Rooney to defend less in order to score more….Saka is wasting a lot of energy in defending
@Onyango
Martin knows what he is talking about.