England cult hero Stuart Pearce thinks Arsenal can improve their Premier League title hopes by addressing the ‘question marks’ concerning Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.
Pearce also adds Eddie Nketiah to their list of players still creating some doubts at Emirates Stadium. He believes the trio of players may not offer manager Mikel Arteta enough to make Arsenal champions this term. So, the Gunners should bid to sign a 20 goal-a-season striker.
The north London club are currently second in the standings after Liverpool beat Burnley 2-0 on Boxing Day. Arteta’s team rank two points behind the Reds as they are not in action until they host West Ham United on Thursday. Aston Villa in third have also played an extra game.
Arsenal face ‘question marks’ with Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah and Kai Havertz
Arsenal’s strong attacking record has helped them to emerge as Premier League title threats this season. They have scored 36 times across 18 matches, led by Bukayo Saka and Nketiah with five goals each. Havertz and captain Martin Odegaard follow with four goals this term.
Three players including Jesus have scored three times under Arteta this season. But the 26-year-old only ranks 12th for minutes played (827), one spot behind Nketiah (848) and two to Havertz (1,097). However, Havertz has only played as a striker for 15 minutes in the league.
Stuart Pearce thinks Arsenal need to sign a 20+ goal-a-season striker in January
Despite Arteta seldom playing Havertz as a centre-forward, Pearce includes the midfielder in the list of Arsenal players making ‘question marks’ in the attack with Nketiah and Jesus. The England hero feels the trio might not give Arteta enough over a season to be the champions.
So, if Arsenal can target the transfer of a 20+ goal-a-season striker, with Arteta interested in Brentford’s Ivan Toney for January, Pearce feels the Emirates Stadium natives would improve their Premier League title hopes. Toney scored 20 goals in 33 top-flight games last season.
“You look at some of the high-flying teams around the world, they might have four options up front,” Pearce told the Express. “There are still slight question marks about Nketiah and Jesus. Maybe even if Havertz plays up top, there’s a question mark there.
“If an out-and-out goalscorer that guarantees 20-odd goals-a-season [becomes available], that would push Arsenal’s credentials even further.”
Toney will return to action in mid-January following his six-month ban and could offer Arteta the 20+ goal-a-season striker Pearce feels Arsenal need to win the Premier League title. The Gunners do not have one in Havertz, Jesus or Nketiah, who have never hit 20 in one season.
Jesus recorded his personal-best single-season return with Manchester City in 2019/20 with 14 goals in 34 games. The Brazilian also hit 11 in 26 games in his first season for the Gunners last term. Nketiah has matched his personal best of five, while Havertz’s high is eight in 29.
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