Arsenal decision to forgo acquiring a striker has backfired as the final third lacks creativity.
Gunners legend, Martin Keown believes that given the chances the team are currently producing, not even Thierry Henry would score.
Arsenal’s pursuit of a first Premier League title since 2004 appears destined to extend into the upcoming season after their 1-0 home loss to West Ham at the Emirates on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta’s side are currently 11 points behind leaders Liverpool with 12 games remaining. The north Londoners’ next three Premier League games are against Nottingham Forest, Manchester United, and Chelsea.
See Also: Liverpool Set To Make A Move For Juventus Skipper
With injuries ravaging the side, as some of the top players are presently out, it was believed that Arsenal will improve their squad in the winter transfer window.
The fans demanded top-level reinforcements in January, but the board declined to approve a high-profile move, preferring to bolster in the summer.
As he discussed the team’s difficulties with talkSPORT, Arsenal Invincible Keown expressed his belief that the choice has eventually cost them.
He said: “When you’ve got four strikers [forwards] that are out and not available to the manager – Havertz, Jesus, Martinelli and Saka…
“I think in any team, in any situation, what’s the equivalent of that at Liverpool? [Mohamed] Salah not being available, [Diogo] Jota, [Luis] Diaz, [Cody] Gakpo, that would be a hole in Liverpool’s team. So I don’t think anyone can plan for that.
“If Thierry Henry was the centre-forward at the weekend, without creating opportunities for him [he wouldn’t score], the precision in their game disappeared.”
COMMENTS