Many believe that the missing piece in the Arsenal team that finished second in the Premier League last season is a top-class striker.
The Gunners were one of the league’s highest-scoring teams, but perhaps more impressively, they boasted the best defence.
This suggests that their backline and midfield were solid, with the primary need for improvement being in attack.
Mikel Arteta’s side has been linked with some of the world’s best strikers throughout the summer, but no significant move has materialised.
Instead, Arsenal has focused on strengthening their defence and is set to do the same with their midfield. Danny Murphy understands why Arteta has prioritised reinforcing these areas of the squad.
He wrote in the Daily Mail:
“The marginal gains Arsenal are looking for is to have a squad where they can replace quality with quality when fatigue sets in. What cost them last year? The spell at Christmas when the fixtures piled up and they lost consecutive games to West Ham and Fulham.
“It’s unfair and unrealistic to expect William Saliba and Gabriel to be fit and fully at it every single week. Calafiore can give them a breather. Likewise, Merino’s arrival would mean Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey or Declan Rice can be rotated without standards being dropped.”
Just Arsenal Opinion
We came really close to winning the league last season, and we truly should trust Mikel Arteta to make the right decision again this term.
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Never one to be taken seriously, this Danny Murphy guy. The key factors have been that a striker is an expensive gamble, Arteta loves signing defensive minded players and he is too riding his hopes on Jesus, Trossard, Merino, Jorghino, Partey, Harvetz and co having one more stand out season in them. After that big investments will be needed in rejuvenating an ageing squad.
Trossard and Merino will all still be fine next season . Jesus will be 28 in April.
Partey and Jorginho will likely be gone so significant midfield investment will be needed.
Idk why you included Havertz he’ll be turning 26 in June, and still has several years on his deal.
Danny Murphy’s echoing the more perceptive fan’s views.
I like being perceptive too Jax
I couldn’t see what the problem was with Murphys view
It’s so obvious Sue. While there’s screams for our terrific goal scoring attack to be boosted, Arteta’s quietly shoring up more essential positions. Having said that, if Jesus is on a long term injury, we may be a bit stretched.
While I agree with Danny that we need a top striker, I feel now is not the time to do just that, especially after we had 6 players on double digits last season, which I think can be replicated this season.
For me, getting a back-up for Saka, and a replacement for the outgoing Ramsdale is a priority now.
Murphy is one of the more intelligent pundits around.
Agree. One of the few out there.
Oh come on???
Murphy is a sub-standard analyst and was a thug as a player. Pretty sure he doesn’t have the intelligence do actually see through his own Scouse bias.
Never seen Murphy described as a thug as a player. He was always quite inoffensive to me.
Danny Murphy is one of the few sober guys out there. He knows what he is talking about. Even without a striker Arsenal were one of the most high scoring teams last season.