Iconic former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer has now given his verdict on the attacking options that currently exist in the Arsenal squad.
Arsenal have been struggling for goals of late. Their woes in the final third have cost them dearly, too, as they have lost their last three matches on the bounce.
In each of these three games, Mikel Arteta has named a starting XI with a different player leading the line.
Against West Ham United, regular first choice striker Gabriel Jesus was in the team. However, the Brazilian spurned a couple of glorious goalscoring opportunities against the East London outfit. In the following match, against Fulham, Eddie Nketiah was given the nod ahead of Jesus. The Hale End academy graduate never really got into the game, though, and made no impact.
Finally, against Liverpool in an FA Cup clash last time out, Kai Havertz was pushed forward from his usual midfield berth to play as the lone striker. It is a position he is familiar with, having played the role regularly throughout his time as a Chelsea player. The German, though, could not apply a finishing touch when presented with multiple openings.
There is a real concern that the Gunners’ habitual profligacy could cost them any chance of being crowned Premier League champions this season. Journalist Charles Watts believes that the north London outfit are staring down the barrel of a “crisis”, and that fans will have good reason to “panic” if Arteta’s side aren’t able to rediscover their clinical edge soon.
Alan Shearer gives verdict on Arsenal attackers
From Arteta’s perspective, it must be extremely frustrating as he is arguably doing everything right as a coach. He is setting up his team in such a way that they are able to generate multiple goalscoring opportunities. The fact that his players aren’t finishing them off is largely out of his control.
However, with his squad currently enjoying a brief period of respite before their next match, he will surely be working intensely with his attackers on the training pitch in an effort to sharpen up their finishing.
Ultimately, though, the Gunners simply lack a truly prolific presence up front. Jesus is the club’s first choice striker, and even he has admitted that goalscoring is not one of the great strengths of his game.
Alan Shearer believes that Arteta simply does not have a forward of the requisite quality as his disposal. Writing for The Athletic, he assessed the Gunners’ existing forward options, compared with those boasted by reigning Premier League champions Manchester City.
Shearer said, “I always felt with City in the days before Erling Haaland’s arrival that they ran the risk of the very biggest moments passing them by. Arsenal are miles from that level and I simply don’t believe they will get to where they want to go without a reliable No 9. Kai Havertz isn’t that player, Gabriel Jesus is not a natural goalscorer, Eddie Nketiah is a good impact player but not the solution if you’re aiming to win the Premier League or Champions League.”
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