Former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour exclusively told Sports Mole that the Gunners could need up to two strikers in order to win the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta will lead his side out at the Emirates against Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday, but his side are 11 points behind league-leaders Liverpool.
The Reds have scored 72 goals in the top flight this season – the best return of any team – and have found the back of the net 16 more times than the Gunners have managed so far.
Speaking to Sports Mole, Parlour argued that the Londoners may need to look to sign two strikers to close the gap to Liverpool next season, saying: “[Mikel Merino] has come in and he’s a midfielder more but he got his goal [against Real Madrid]. He seems to be knocking the goals in a little bit like Havertz did when he went up front.
“But that is where they’ll be looking in the summer – maybe even two strikers, who knows? If they can get the right people in, it all goes down to financial fair play, of course. Who knows how much they’ve got to spend – they’ve got to lose a few players as well.”
Arsenal boast the best defensive record in the division having only conceded on 26 occasions, so perhaps signing a striker would be the final missing piece ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
© Imago
Would Arsenal be closer to Liverpool had they signed Toney?
Arsenal were previously linked to Brentford striker Ivan Toney, who left the Bees to play in the Saudi Pro League in last summer transfer window.
During his time in the Premier League, the Englishman managed to score 67 goals and provide 21 assists in 128 appearances for Thomas Frank‘s side.
When asked whether Arsenal would have been significantly closer to Liverpool had they signed Toney, Parlour argued that it is difficult to know for certain, telling Sports Mole: “Ivan Tony – would they be in a better position [if he signed]? Who knows? That’s all I can say because you never know. Certain players hit the ground running.
“I know he knows the Premier League but obviously Mikel Arteta had an opportunity to maybe go and get him, or maybe Ivan Tony went to Saudi for the money. Simple as that. He might have had no interest in going to Arsenal.”
There is an argument that the Gunners would have been more competitive in the Premier League title race had the likes of Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus not suffered serious injuries.
© Imago
Why Arsenal have to get it right in the summer
Arteta may have a strong opportunity to win the title in 2025-26 given Manchester City will likely still be rebuilding, while Liverpool look certain to lose Trent Alexander-Arnold for free in the summer to Real Madrid.
It should be noted that the Arsenal boss has already spent in the region of £600m since arriving in the winter of 2019, and failure to win the league next term could increase the scrutiny on his position as boss.
Parlour was keen to emphasise the importance of signing the right striker as opposed to any forward when he told Sports Mole: “I don’t think you can just buy players for the sake of it. Arteta will understand what sort of player he wants, what striker he’s going to want up front.
“Maybe Toney didn’t fit into the category that he was looking at. I don’t know the ins and outs of transfers but obviously that is the glaring position that everybody knows Arsenal will be looking at during the summer.”
Arsenal seem destined to finish second for a third consecutive season, and Arteta will want to avoid falling short once again by making a statement addition in the upcoming transfer window.
Ray Parlour was speaking to Sports Mole on behalf of Netbet Sports Betting.
