July 24th 2024.
It's been quite a while since Arsenal has lifted the Premier League trophy, with their last win dating back to 2004. According to former goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, relying solely on Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus as their strikers will make it difficult for the team to ever win again.
In the past two seasons, the Gunners have come incredibly close to ending their drought, finishing just five points behind Manchester City in 2022-23 and a mere two points behind in 2023-24 under the guidance of manager Mikel Arteta. The team will undoubtedly be aiming to go one step further in the upcoming season and finally claim the title, but Hislop believes this will not be possible without signing a new striker.
During the summer, Arsenal were in talks to secure the services of RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, but the Slovenian international ultimately chose to stay in Germany despite interest from multiple Premier League clubs. Other potential targets for the Gunners include Napoli's Victor Osimhen and Sporting's Viktor Gyokeres, and Hislop has urged Arteta to address the club's striker situation before the new season begins.
Speaking on ESPN, Hislop stated that while Arsenal's defense was impressive last season, it's their attacking options that need improvement. He expressed doubt over Havertz's ability to lead a team to a Premier League victory, as well as Gabriel Jesus' inconsistency due to injuries. Hislop believes that despite being a strong team, Arsenal still have work to do in order to match Manchester City's level.
Last season, Arsenal scored a total of 91 goals, the second-highest in the Premier League behind Manchester City. Winger Bukayo Saka was their top scorer with 16 goals, while Havertz and Leandro Trossard also reached double figures. On the other hand, Jesus only managed to contribute four goals in what was a disappointing second season at the Emirates Stadium.
Despite the slow start to their summer transfer window, the Gunners have made some moves, including the signing of teenage goalkeeper Tommy Setford from Ajax and making David Raya's loan deal from Brentford permanent. Arteta is also set to welcome Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori in a £40m deal from Bologna, and the team continues to be linked with midfielders Mikel Merino from Spain and Marc Guehi from England.
Currently on a pre-season tour in the USA, Arsenal will kick off the 2024-25 season on August 17 with a home match against Wolves. Fans can stay updated on all the latest news, exclusives, and analysis by signing up for the club's newsletter, which is protected by reCAPTCHA and subject to Google's Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
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