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Arsenal had the Premier League pole position for the duration of the 2022/23 campaign. They faltered at the tail end of the season, their dramatic collapse allowing Manchester City to run away with the title.
The Citizens have now claimed their fifth Premier League title in six years. Erling Haaland’s goalscoring exploits helped Pep Guardiola extend his legend in English top-flight football. Arsenal missed a similar attacking outlet in their title bid with Gabriel Jesus struggling to live up to the challenge.
Arsenal Need 25-Goal-a-Season Striker
Paul Merson emphasized the need for Arsenal to acquire a centre-forward who can consistently score goals for the team. He suggests that the Londoners require someone who can deliver around 25 goals per season to address their goal-scoring concerns.
While Jesus is a talented player and has proved to be a brilliant signing, he alone may not be able to provide the required number of goals. They need a striker who is a proven entity and Arteta can utilize Jesus’ versatility to supplement their attacking threat.
Honest opinion Gabriel Jesus is not a striker Arsenal needs, he is just a talented footballer that can add to the squad. More holes are being unleashed so pull serious money to sign serious players otherwise these are still jokers. pic.twitter.com/4LkQVDX58e
— African Silver (@AfricanSilver) May 20, 2023
“Arsenal need a centre forward. They need someone who is going to get them 25 goals a season,” Merson wrote for Give Me Sport. “I’m not having a go at Gabriel Jesus. He’s a very good player and he’s been a brilliant signing.
“But he’s not going to get you the goals you need on his own. The other day against Brighton, I don’t remember him ever looking like scoring.
“Jesus can play anywhere. So if you buy a striker he could still get in the team. He could play with a striker.”
Chelsea’s Lukaku is the Answer
Romelu Lukaku has struggled to settle at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea will be looking to cut their losses. The Belgian attacker can lead Arsenal’s lines and can partner with Jesus in attack, as he has done for the Red Devils on the international stage.
His addition would make them a bigger goalscoring threat. Lukaku will stay up front and back into defenders using his physical presence to hold up play that could benefit Arsenal’s attack. Merson believes this would help diversify their goal-scoring methods. The Gunners can then score pretty as well as scrappy goals to get over the line, becoming more effective in the process.
Ollie Watkins and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have been linked with a move to North London but the duo cannot be relied upon. Merson doubts whether they would be the right fit for Arsenal given their limited successes.
Lukaku has 12 goals and 5 assist in his last 16 games.
Class is permanent 🇧🇪 pic.twitter.com/YmKiP4i98a
— Janty (@CFC_Janty) May 21, 2023
“Romelu Lukaku might be available. The 30-year-old is an out-and-out centre-forward. He will stay up front and back into players. That might help Arsenal,” Merson shared. “They can’t be predictable. Every goal they score is a ‘good’ goal. They need to be able to score scrappy goals.
“Ollie Watkins I can’t see scoring 25 goals a season. Unai Emery has made him a better player but I don’t think he has the quality.
“If Arsenal bought him and he went and he only got ten goals next season, you wouldn’t be shocked.
“They looked at Dominic Calvert-Lewin before. Would that be right for them after the season he’s had? Probably not.
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