‘Arsenal and stubborn Arteta don’t really want a striker’
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been claimed to be reluctant to sign a striker during this summer’s transfer window because he is being stubborn.
The Gunners again fell short in their quest for a trophy this season, finishing second in the Premier League for a third consecutive year.
As they look to end that wait for a trophy in the coming campaign, the North London club look set to be active in the market.
Arsenal have agreed a deal to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad to boost their midfield options with Jorginho and Thomas Partey both out of contract this summer.
Meanwhile, Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is set to move to the Emirates as cover and competition for David Raya.
There is though, still the same standout issue for the Gunners to rectify before next season begins, with questions emerging about whether that will be done.
Mikel Arteta scrutinised over striker search
Amid a string of injuries to their attacking options, the lack of a centre-forward became a major issue for the North London club during the season.
As a result, Arteta has already been told he can win the Premier League next season by signing a striker before the campaign begins.
There continues to be speculation about who that might be, and Football Insider understands Arsenal favour a move for Benjamin Sesko over Viktor Gyokeres.
However, Troy Deeney is unconvinced that Arteta truly wants either player, or any other available striker, at the Emirates next season, after giving his thoughts while speaking on talkSPORT.
After Gabby Agbonlahor noted he expects Arsenal will get a striker signed this summer, the former Watford striker responded by saying: “You say maybe they will get it done.
“Zubimendi by all accounts is done and dusted, they’ve got a goalkeeper coming in as well as backup, so you’ve found those areas and got it done…
“I just feel like there’s an element now of Arteta being a little bit stubborn, and ‘I’m going to show you I can do it my way’.
Agbonlahor then suggested the Gunners boss would “not dare” fail to sign a striker, given the pressure on him to end the club’s wait for a trophy next season.
In response, Deeney noted that Brentford’s Yoane Wissa has not even been linked with Arsenal this summer, before adding: “It just feels like they don’t want to get the striker, that’s my thought.”
Comparing that to the early business done in the window by Liverpool and Man City, the ex-Watford icon then said: “You just look at Arsenal it feels to me that they’re just dragging their feet.”
Arsenal must sign a striker this summer
Football Insider Verdict
There is surely no avoiding the fact that the Gunners have to sign a striker this summer, regardless of whether or not Arteta really wants such a deal to get done.
Arsenal missed so many chances last season that they would surely have taken had they had a natural goalscorer on the pitch.
If that had been the case, then the Gunners would at the very least have gone a lot closer to winning a long awaited piece of silverware.
So with their rivals strengthening in key areas, Arsenal surely have to do the same if they are going to have a chance of winning a trophy next season.
Should they fail to do that, then they will go into the start of the campaign already clouded with tension from the stands to put them firmly under pressure.
That will make success harder to come by, and given what may be at stake for Arteta when it comes to his job, that means he surely has to accept that a striker is indeed needed at the Emirates.