Chris Sutton has offered his perspective on Arsenal’s exit from the Champions League, stating that the Gunners’ season has been undermined by their failure to sign a striker. Arsenal did not strengthen their forward line during the summer or winter transfer windows, and that decision has ultimately proved costly in both the Premier League and Champions League campaigns.
Missed Opportunities in the Transfer Market
In an attempt to address the shortfall, the club made a move in January by submitting an offer for Ollie Watkins. However, Aston Villa turned down the approach, and Arsenal did not pursue another striker before the window closed. That lack of follow-up has now been highlighted as a critical error, with the team having suffered defeats that a clinical forward may have helped them avoid.
While Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz have both been unavailable due to injury at various points, neither player has demonstrated the consistent goal-scoring form required to lead a title charge. The absence of a prolific striker has been apparent, and Arsenal have struggled as the season has gone on.
Sutton Highlights the Striker Issue
As cited by the All Kicking Off! podcast, Sutton commented:
‘Arteta has been there for five years now, and I think it’s glaringly obvious to look at Arsenal not bringing in a striker last summer.
At this level, it’s fine margins. They made that last-minute play for Ollie Watkins in the January window, which I think was an admission they had got things wrong.
Five seasons now with Arteta: I think there are definitely things he could have done that would have given Arsenal a better chance of winning silverware.’
Many Arsenal supporters are likely to share Sutton’s sentiment, agreeing that the failure to recruit a striker has had a significant impact on the club’s ability to compete for major trophies this season.
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What insight Sutton has, A lot of Arsenal fans have been saying that for three years.
Since Auba, Arteta has never bought a striker? His choice.
We know this, how many more expert pundits are going to state the obvious.
Sutton telling us something we didn’t already know? Do they get actually paid for this drivel?
It would appear so Jax.🙄🤦♂️
The single, most accurate truth that the academy youth players and coaches know, but evaded Arteta.
Going out to splash $60mil on Harvetz, go scavenging in the Chelsea Trash bins for Sterling, and bringing in an average homeboy midfielder in Merino while on holiday at home, is not commitment to Arsenal’s success. It’s abusing the trust put on him.
This makes no sense at all. Arsenal are currently amongst the strongest teams in Europe. Some of this is due to our transfer strategy. How does this’s then indicate an abuse of trust?
How much do these pundits earn for their pearls of wisdom?!
Arteta abused the trust put in him?
What an absolute crock of BS!!
Arteta has lived every second of this season and is as committed as any fan.
Of course he’s made some big mistakes, who hasn’t?
The article failed to mention the injuries which puts a slant on the success/failure of the season. A striker wasn’t bought- don’t know for sure who bears that responsibility. Anyone of the board, Arteta, Edu or a combination of them all.
The fact remains that we didn’t lose out on the title last season purely based on not having an out and out striker. City have one and that hasn’t won them the PL this time around.