February 4th 2024.
The expert pundit has shared his thoughts on Arsenal's current performance and believes that the team is still missing a key element in their attacking lineup. Gary Neville, a former player turned commentator, has openly criticized Kai Havertz's contribution to the team's recent game against Liverpool. He stated that the young player appeared too "languid" to lead the line for Arsenal and that the team still needs to acquire a new frontman.
Mikel Arteta's side was in danger of falling behind the Premier League leaders by eight points, but they managed to secure a well-deserved 3-1 victory on Sunday. Goals from Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Leandro Trossard brought them within two points of Liverpool. However, with Gabriel Jesus out due to injury, it was Havertz's responsibility to lead the attack. Despite putting in effort, he missed several good chances, with Saka being the one to capitalize on a rebound.
While Neville acknowledges Havertz's hard work, he is not convinced that he is the solution for Arsenal's lack of a goalscoring striker. He also believes that even when Jesus returns to full fitness, the team will still be missing a key player in the attacking line. During a post-game analysis on Sky Sports, Neville shared his thoughts, stating that Mikel Arteta has done an excellent job with the current group of players and that he has probably reached the maximum potential with them. However, Neville believes that the team is still missing a crucial piece up top.
When asked if it was a mistake not to bring in a striker during the January transfer window, Neville responded with a simple "yes." He also pointed out that the team had money available during the summer transfer window, but they instead spent £65m on Havertz. While acknowledging Havertz's unique playing style, Neville pointed out that he lacks the change of pace and direction needed in the box.
Neville also shared his observations on Gabriel Jesus, stating that while he loves the player, he tends to be everywhere on the pitch except where he should be. He also mentioned Eddie Nketiah, who he believes is the most natural striker out of the three, but still not up to the standard of the other two. Neville also praised the performance of Saka and Martinelli, highlighting their excellent crosses into the box, which unfortunately did not find their intended targets.
In conclusion, Neville emphasized the need for a top-quality striker in Arsenal's lineup and questioned what Mikel Arteta can do with the current players to make them score more goals in the remaining 15 games. He also highlighted the team's lack of options in the striker position and questioned who Arteta can rely on to fill in that role. It is a topic that has been widely discussed, and Neville's analysis only adds to the ongoing debate.
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