Arsenal 'have the money' to sign striker as transfer strategy slammed by ex-Liverpool and Sunderland man

One of the biggest talking points of this season for Arsenal has been the striker position and their failure to address it both in summer and in January.

They dropped points for the second game in a row on Wednesday night as they failed to score against Nottingham Forest in a 0-0 draw which has given Liverpool a 13-point gap at the top of the Premier League table. The Gunners had 13 shots with just one on target.

With the title race all but over, many will look to the fact that Arsenal didn’t sign a striker as a big reason behind their failure to win a league title this season. Many pundits criticise Arsenal’s transfer strategy as the reason why they couldn’t keep pace with Arne Slot’s Liverpool.

Jason McAteer slams Arsenal’s transfer strategy

Arsenal made a bid to sign Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins during the January transfer window, but it was rejected as Villa had already sold striker Jhon Duran to Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr. That was considered the only concrete move they made for a number nine this season.

Former Liverpool and Sunderland midfielder Jason McAteer told 10Bet: “I just thought, if Arsenal are still in the title race, it's a position you need to strengthen, go on then.

“The Ollie Watkins one was an interesting one. I don't know whether that was a bit of panic or whether he's always been on the radar. You have to throw £100 million at them, way over the odds to get him out, or you do your business at the beginning of the window.

“They've got the money. The money was there. It all boiled down to not doing the right business in the summer, that left them scrambling.

“It's as if they've covered every other position but that one, the striker, he [Arteta] seems to stay away from. He thinks he's got enough but for me I just don't see a plan.”

Arsenal strikers Havertz and Jesus are both out injured for the rest of the season, and so the Gunners will have to wait until next year to get a centre-forward back. However, in positive news, the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are nearing a return with the club now targeting the Champions League as their only source of silverware this season.

Which striker could Arsenal sign in the summer?

Considering all that has happened this season, Arsenal look a certainty to sign a striker in the summer transfer window. They have been linked to several names.

It is most likely that Arsenal could go in for Newcastle’s Alexander Isak if he is available for a transfer. Reports have said that the Magpies would be prepared to sell their star man should they fail to qualify for the Champions League.

Isak has been one of the best attackers in Europe this season, scoring 19 goals in 24 Premier League games.

Arsenal have also been heavily linked with signing RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, who is less of a proven talent at the age of just 21. However, the Slovenian international has scored 10 goals in 22 Bundesliga games this season, and would be expected to be a slightly cheaper option compared to Isak.

Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP has previously been linked with Arsenal, but any reports suggesting that they could move for him in the summer have quietened down, which makes it seem that Isak and Sesko are more realistic options.

For your next Arsenal read: Mikel Arteta shares hint on when Saka and Martinelli are set to return from injury.