January 15th 2025.
According to Didi Hamann, a former Liverpool player, Arsenal is in dire need of a new striker if they want to have a chance at winning any major trophies. Hamann strongly believes that the addition of Liverpool's Darwin Nunez to the team would completely transform the Gunners. However, Arsenal is facing some tough times, having suffered two consecutive defeats before their crucial match against Tottenham on Wednesday night.
Mikel Arteta's side was first beaten by Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup semi-final, followed by a disappointing exit from the FA Cup at the hands of Manchester United. In both games, Arsenal struggled to score and missed numerous opportunities, leading many experts to point out their need for a new striker. While Kai Havertz has been playing in that role for the past two years, his goal record of 14 goals in 51 appearances last season and his inconsistent performance this season has left much to be desired.
Hamann, who has won the Champions League with Liverpool, believes that Arsenal needs a strong and dominant presence up front. He is convinced that Darwin Nunez, who was signed by Liverpool from Benfica in 2022 for a staggering £85m, would greatly improve Arteta's team. However, since his arrival, Nunez has not quite lived up to the high expectations set for him by the fans. Despite scoring 37 goals in 122 appearances for the Reds, he has only managed to find the back of the net twice in the Premier League this season.
"When I saw Nunez turn the game around against Newcastle last season, I thought this was it, he had finally arrived. But that has not been the case," Hamann expressed in an interview with BestOffShoreSportsbook. He went on to explain that while Nunez is a talented player, he is not a natural finisher like Robbie Fowler or Michael Owen, who could always find a way to score. Hamann believes that for the amount of money Liverpool paid to acquire Nunez's services, he should have been a more prolific goalscorer.
Switching his focus to Arsenal, Hamann does not see them winning anything without a solid striker upfront. He acknowledges that they could possibly win a cup with some luck or even the Champions League without being the best team, but in the Premier League, having a top striker is crucial. "You can look at teams with Pep Guardiola or players like Neymar and Lionel Messi, but Arsenal needs a presence," he said. In his opinion, Nunez's addition to the team would make a significant difference. With his physicality, pace, and ability to stretch defenses, he would create more space for players like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli to cause damage.
The former Liverpool midfielder also pointed out that Arsenal lacks a quick and dynamic center forward, which affects their attacking game. He believes that this is the reason behind their struggles in front of the goal. Hamann echoed the sentiments of Arsenal legend and pundit, Robbie Fowler, who recently criticized Nunez and stated that he does not see him as a Liverpool player. "We're saying the same things now as we were two or three years ago. He's raw, he's this, he's that. You can't keep saying that. For me, the more I see him, the more I think he's not a Liverpool player," Fowler said in an interview with ITV.
Nunez has not scored a Premier League goal since November 9 and was even suspended for Liverpool's recent game against Nottingham Forest, who are surprisingly challenging for the title this season. With his lack of goals and inconsistent performances, the pressure is mounting on Nunez to prove his worth to the team. As Hamann and Fowler have highlighted, the expectations are high for a player who was signed for such a hefty fee. Only time will tell if Nunez can live up to these expectations and prove himself as a valuable asset to Liverpool.
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