Paul Merson has urged Arsenal to sign either Tammy Abraham or Gabriel Jesus when the summer transfer window re-opens.
The Sky Sports pundit added that, without one of those signings, it’s going to be a “long and hard season” next term for Mikel Arteta and Co.
The Gunners were beaten to the last top-four spot by Tottenham, meaning Arteta’s men will have to settle for a place in the Europa League next season.
Disappointing defeats to Spurs and Newcastle United in recent weeks significantly damaged the club’s chances of securing their first Champions League qualification since the 2015/16 campaign when they finished second in the English top-flight table.
As a result, there are doubts about whether the club can still acquire their top summer targets this summer, with elite players coveting the attention and platform the Champions League provides.
The obvious area of concern is the striker position, as Merson told Sky Sports News that one of Jesus or Abraham would do the job.
The obvious area of concern is the striker, as Merson told Sky Sports News that one of Jesus or Abraham would do the job.
“I think one of them two has to come in. I think without one of them two, it’s going to be a long hard season next season.”
Our thoughts…
The Gunners are set to lose both Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah when their contracts expire next month, so they need to bring in at least one centre-forward this summer in the ilk of either Jesus or Abraham.
Abraham is enjoying his best football over in Italy, netting 17 Serie A goals with Roma and, as a result, breaking the record for most goals scored by an Englishman in a single season in Italy.
Possessing Jesus’ tremendous Premier League goals + assists (90 in 158 appearances) record for City since his move there in 2017, the north London outfit may well have been in a much better position in the Premier League.
Both forwards hold tremendous goal-scoring records, despite not being considered amongst the best of their position in Europe, and either one of them becoming Arteta’s main man next season could well propel both their games to deserved worldwide stardom.
AND in other news, Arsenal interested in “intelligent and technically gifted” South American “ball-winner”…