Arteta: Signing a new striker won’t be easy
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said in a recent interview that it won’t be easy to bring in a new striker this summer. While the team may have that in mind, the reality is that finding the right player is not an easy task.
The squad is too thin, affecting results
The season has come to an end, but the results have not been good for Arsenal. They were average in key games and looked undermanned, especially in attack. After the Champions League quarterfinals, the team lacked a striker who could actually score goals.
To compensate for this, the coaching staff has even moved some midfielders into the striker position, such as Mikel Merino. Although he is tall and seems to be able to play in that position, the actual result is not good. He hasn’t helped the team score more goals, which is why the fans were hoping the team would buy another striker in the summer.
What did Arteta say?
Under pressure from the outside world, manager Arteta didn’t dodge the question. He said: “Of course I want us to have the strongest team and I want our players to be the best. If there are three players in the team who can all score 25 goals or more in a season, then I will definitely play them”.
However, he also admitted that the striker position is the hardest to buy. He said: “Because there aren’t many really capable strikers, especially players who can stand up in terms of stats, there are really few. Even in the Premier League there are not many players like that”.
Confidence in current players
Arteta also said that he has faith in his current players and will find ways to help them improve. “Sometimes when we lose a game people think if we need to change or if we need to buy new people. But I think we should first look at the guys we have and see if they have potential and if there are ways to get better”.
He also mentioned, “I often hear people say that a certain player is not good or should be replaced. But sometimes you realize that the new name that is suggested is actually not as good as the original player”.
Who are Arsenal’s targets?
According to ESPN’s sources, Arsenal are looking at several strikers this summer, including Alexander Isaac, Victor Giocheres and Benjamin Cesc. All of these players are relatively young and have some potential, but are still in their developmental stages.
Arsenal actually tried to sign Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins when the transfer market opened this winter, but in the end the deal didn’t go through.
To summarize.
Overall, Arsenal want to strengthen their forward line, but there are not many suitable candidates on the market at the moment and the price may not be low. Manager Arteta is also trying to solve the problem by upgrading his current players rather than relying on reinforcements.
For the fans, a little patience might be in order. After all, it’s not easy to find a striker who really fits into the team and can make an immediate difference.
