October 28th 2024.
Arsenal, under the leadership of Mikel Arteta, has been performing impressively in the Premier League this season. Currently sitting in third place, they are only five points behind the league leaders Manchester City. However, according to former Manchester City defender Micah Richards, there is still room for improvement in the Arsenal squad.
Richards believes that Arsenal could benefit from signing another forward, as Arteta may be feeling frustrated with the lack of impact from current forward Gabriel Jesus. In their recent match against title rivals Liverpool, Arsenal managed to secure a 2-2 draw despite missing key players such as the suspended William Saliba and injured captain Martin Odegaard.
The Gunners have also been dealing with a shortage of defensive players, with Takehiro Tomiyasu and Riccardo Calafiori sidelined and Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber getting injured during the match against Liverpool. However, despite these challenges, Richards commends Arteta and his team for their adaptability and ability to find ways to win.
Speaking on The Rest is Football, Richards acknowledges that Arteta has done well in adjusting his tactics to suit the situation at hand. However, he expresses concern that the lack of quality options up front could hinder their chances of winning the title. He suggests that another forward should be signed to take some pressure off of Kai Havertz, who is currently Arsenal's first choice centre-forward.
Arteta had signed Jesus from Manchester City in 2022 for a hefty sum of £45 million. However, injuries have affected the Brazilian's form and he has only managed to score 19 goals and provide 15 assists in 80 games. This season, he has yet to score or assist in 11 appearances, with most of them being substitute appearances as Havertz remains the preferred option up front.
With six goals and an assist in 13 games so far this season, Havertz has solidified his position as the main striker for Arsenal. However, should anything happen to him, Arteta only has struggling Jesus, as well as wingers Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli, to turn to. Jesus will be hoping to end his goal drought in the upcoming Carabao Cup match against Preston on Wednesday.
Overall, Arsenal's performance this season has been commendable, especially considering the injuries they have faced. However, with the possibility of signing another quality forward, they could have a stronger chance at achieving their title ambitions. It will be interesting to see how Arteta manages the squad and if they are able to maintain their impressive form.
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