Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has rejected the concept that Arsenal’s No.1 priority for the summer transfer window is to usher in a brand new striker.
The Gunners are regarded as eager to recruit a world-class forward at the tip of the season, with Alexander Isak at the highest of their wishlist.
Isak is prone to be deemed too expensive, though, with Newcastle having no in any respect to sell and would only let him go for an astronomical fee.
Arsenal saw a bid rejected for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins in January and will launch a fresh offer in the summertime while numerous other forwards – including RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko – have been linked.
The Gunners’ interest in a brand new forward has only increased with their attacking injury crisis this season, with an absence of options seeing Mikel Arteta’s men forced to make use of midfielder Mikel Merino as a makeshift striker.
Get personalised updates on Arsenal on a regular basis
Get up to search out news in your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Join to our newsletter after which select your team within the link we’ll send you so we will get football news tailored to you.
But football pundit Carragher believes Arsenal shouldn’t be prioritising a brand new striker in the summertime and feels they as a substitute need ‘creative players’.
‘Is [current Arsenal striker] Kai Havertz world class? Possibly not,’ Carragher said on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football show.
‘But I feel he does an amazing job for that team. By way of his all-round play, not only scoring goals.
‘Could they improve in that area? Perhaps. Nevertheless it’s difficult. When you consider among the other big teams within the Premier League, where are the strikers?
‘Liverpool signed Darwin Nunez, he’s not adequate. Manchester United signed Rasmus Hojlund, he’s not adequate.
‘Nicolas Jackson isn’t adequate for Chelsea. There’s lack of top-quality strikers world wide.
‘When Mikel Arteta is on the lookout for this guy who’s going to take them to the subsequent level, it’s going to be very difficult to search out someone who gives you these goals and [also] gives you what Havertz does in that position.
‘I actually think creating is an enormous problem [for Arsenal]… Forget bringing in a No.9, the very first thing they could need to do is sign more creative players.’
Meanwhile, Carragher has made a prediction over where Arsenal may finish within the Premier League table this season, with their 1-1 draw at Manchester United on Sunday all-but ending their top-flight title hopes.
‘I expect them to complete comfortably second… possibly… possibly not,’ Carragher added. ‘It appears like the Champions League positions are something we’re going to be maintaining a tally of until the tip of the season.
‘I feel Arsenal shall be looking over their shoulder greater than Liverpool in front of them.
‘[Arsenal’s title hopes] are over. There was a glimmer of hope before the weekend, the actual fact Arsenal could still go to Anfield and check out to beat Liverpool, but I feel that [draw with United] was the ultimate confirmation.
‘I expect Arsenal to drop more points from now until the tip of the season.’
MORE: Sir Jim Ratcliffe names five Man Utd players who’re ‘overpaid’ including £86m flop
MORE: Sir Jim Ratcliffe backs Man Utd flop to return good despite getting ‘knocked about by Arsenal’
MORE: Owen Hargreaves names best position for Man Utd ‘shining light’ Alejandro Garnacho
