Mikel Arteta and Edu have been told that Arsenal had the opportunity to have the league title favourites tag this season, but one choice changed that. Many expected the North Londoners to prioritise a move for a striker during this summer transfer window.
Initially, there were links to strikers such as Alexander Isak and Benjamin Sesko (who chose to stay at RB Leipzig), but as the summer progressed, transfer interest in a striker faded. Although there was speculation of a last-minute striker swoop, Arteta shot down those rumours last weekend, claiming he was satisfied with his attacking options.
However, former West Ham player Shaka Hislop has stated that Arsenal’s failure to buy a top striker this summer makes it more difficult for them to win the league. Yes, he predicts them to finally win the league, but he believes that by not acquiring a striker, they are relying on the Citizens not having the perfect squad, which he says is ageing, rather than having them having a “complete squad” to comfortably win the league.
“I have Arsenal winning this time around,” Hislop said on ESPN UK’s YouTube channel. “Manchester City’s time is coming in the sense that some of their star players are ageing and there hasn’t been a whole lot of movement in the transfer window.”
He added, “Arsenal have continued to improve, but my one caveat is that I don’t feel they’ve addressed their biggest need, which is for an out-and-out striker.
“Due to this, I’m saying Arsenal to win it with some hesitation, but it’s more due to Man City regressing.”
It is still unclear whether Arsenal would make an attacking push for a striker or a winger following the Mikel Merino transfer, but we must trust Edu and Mikel Arteta’s assessment of what the team requires.
There’s a lot of hope for what Havertz can offer Arsenal this season. If he maintains the superb form he showed in the Premier League run-in, as he hinted he may do by scoring and assisting against Wolves on PL Match Day 1, he could after all be the striker Hislop believes Arsenal require.
I’m not sure about you, but I believe Arsenal will push together to win the league, regardless of how strong City’s squad is or whether they sign an out-and-out striker or not. What are your thoughts?
Daniel O
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Anything can still happen in the transfer market. History reckons that Arsenal have done some good signings, last days of the transfer market. So we”ll wait and see. And Edu & Rteta not get any striker this summer, I bet Havertz can only get better.His goals return last season wasn’t bad.
He has now gather enough Epl experience to deliver as good CF.
No worries ..
I think we need a striker (or, possibly, a winger) but I’m getting doubtful we’ll get one as the transfer clock is running down.
Unlike the view in the article, I don’t think Arsenal will win the title “regardless of how strong City’s squad is …”. That doesn’t make much sense to me.
Clearly the strength of City’s squad will be a factor – I don’t see how you can exclude it from any calculation. They have just re-signed Gundogan from Barcelona on a free transfer, for example. Now, that’s good business by Pep as Gundogan is still regarded as one of the best midfielders in Europe and he was hugely influential at City before and they missed him last season.
Also, we don’t know for sure if Arsenal or City will bring in other players. Even if Arsenal don’t City may do so, and they do tend to move more quickly in the transfer market. We’ll have to wait and see but to suggest Arsenal can win the title regardless is a tad reckless in my opinion.
Yes, as long as most of Saka’s/ Odegaard’s long diagonal crosses meet Havertz’s and Merino’s heads
Aside from that, Jesus and Saliba mustn’t get injured
We can’t lose Saka either, because he’s our paciest inverted RW
Yes- We have enough fire power- Saka, Havertz, Martinelli, Trossard, Odegaard and others can score too
It’s possible. We look even more defensively solid this season. Let’s hope our attacking players maintain form throughout the season.
Yes! Arsenal could win the title this season. And win it without having to sign a new top class quality striker this summer. But I think if they sign one before the window shuts, their winning the title this season will be strongly enhanced than it was in the last 2 seasons.
And if Arteta thinks Arsenal can win the title this season without signing a new striker to replace Nkethia. Why was Arsenal trying to sign Benjamin Sesko early this summer window?
To listen to the voice of the people is to listen to the voice of wisdom.
Therefore, let Arsenal listen to the voice of the Gooners and sign a new top class quality striker before the window closes.
Season on Season we have scored more goals without a proven striker.
I Was very doubtful at the start weather KH could deliver but today imo he has added rather then hindered our progression
I wouldn’t be surprised he get 15 plus this season
Does bringing in a striker change the dynamics of the team.
City bringing in haaland had to readjust there whole approach.
Not sure we are mature enough as a team to do that right now.
The team are in a rhythm of how we play so I would hate to see us break that flow up for the sake of 1 player but if we get a top striker as a lot on here are craving for then so be it and we will have to adapt.
Last thing
If some cast there minds back to when we had wrighty who was a goal machine we stopped scoring as a team and looked for him to score which he did of course.
Like wise I felt at the latter end of super TH. Time with us.
I like when we share a shed load of goals around the team.
It makes us unpredictable to other teams.
Onwards and upwards
Of course everyone know that arsenal has no tipical striker it deserves, though hervertz is trying to pursue but still apart from Jesus, arsenal need a serious goal machine or else moderate like Viktor gyonkares, victor oshimen.
Havertz is going under the radar.
14 games as striker he has 17 G/A only blanking in the 0-0 with City. He kicked have this season with 2. If he wasn’t Havertz and people hadn’t set their stall out against him people would be raving about how good a record that is.
kicked off*
Everything is possible without a forward. It is a matter of probability, some people won lotteries and some live more than 100 years old. This has become a self-comforting rant for us like a kid has to justify eating a piece of candy became there are also benefits. I remember Wenger time when we kept justifying our defense was good in the face of gaping holes or selling our captain every year was sustainable with a probability. The difference between us and City is their consistency or completeness in all departments.
Not sure we can. Its a missing piece. A proper no9.
Nico Williams or Wirtz on the left improve us more than any cf other than Kane or Halaand.
Dont agree. We need a no9.
Not for me we need a prolific striker and another wide player capable of covering Saka who needs a breather now and again do that and keep him fresh will get even more out of him that and a striker can get us that prem league tittle!
A more clinical finisher improves our chances, and having better options than Jesus will improve us also.
Repeating the same and expecting different results is madness.
No guarantee we will score as many goals as last year, so having options can improve our chances and makes us less predictable than rinsing and repeating Jesus as striker.
👍 spot on.
Get a striker and get rid of Nketiah
The win over Villa emphasizes the difficulty of winning the league without a striker. However, I don’t believe Ollie Watkins was a great example to strengthen my opinion.