Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has offered his assessment regarding the Gunners’ pursuit of the Premier League championship, emphasising the necessity of making three crucial signings in order to compete with Manchester City for the title.
Following Arsenal’s narrow miss of the title to Manchester City by a mere two points, the focus has shifted towards reinforcing the squad in the upcoming transfer window. Wright highlighted the need for additional depth to provide cover for key players such as William Saliba and Bukayo Saka, as well as bolstering the midfield.
During an appearance on the Stick to Football podcast, Wright stated, “Everyone has discussed the need for Arsenal to sign a centre forward, however, as challenging as it has been, we can manage without that traditional centre forward. I believe we require cover for Bukayo Saka, cover for William Saliba, and potentially another midfielder. When you observe what Manchester City is capable of achieving in terms of player recruitment, it becomes evident that we need someone who can challenge William Saliba for his position, given the necessity to strengthen the entire squad – consider our bench.”
Saliba has been instrumental in Arsenal’s defensive achievements, boasting the best defensive record in the league. His absence has been keenly felt in previous seasons, with the team conceding more goals in his absence. Wright expressed apprehension about the team’s ability to cope in the event of his injury and emphasised the need for a dependable backup.
Bukayo Saka, another pivotal figure for the Gunners, emerged as their top goal scorer, contributing 20 goals across all competitions. Despite his impressive performance, Arsenal endured another season without securing any silverware, prompting discussions about the team’s lack of depth.
Manager Mikel Arteta remains optimistic about the team’s future and urged the fans to remain committed to the journey towards success. Wright echoed Arteta’s sentiments, emphasising the importance of having a competitive squad to challenge Manchester City’s dominance.
“We will need to start again,” he stated. “Undoubtedly, we have made progress from last season and I am very proud of what they have achieved because it is challenging and City have demonstrated the level. We cannot expect Arsenal not to drop points, what is ideally desired is greater involvement from more players to present City with a tougher challenge.”
In conclusion, Wright’s observations shed light on the crucial areas that Arsenal needs to address in the upcoming transfer window to mount a serious challenge for the Premier League title. As the new season approaches, all eyes will be on Arsenal’s recruitment strategy as they seek to bridge the gap with Manchester City and emerge as formidable title contenders.