Arsenal have a lot of soul-searching to do in the wake of a season that promised so much and ultimately delivered little.
The Gunners were hoping to make it third time lucky in the Premier League title race and also go far in the cups.
Arsenal ultimately fell short in the Premier League title race, with the Champions League becoming their main focus for the campaign.
However, the Gunners couldn’t get the better of Paris Saint-Germain, who advanced to the final at Arsenal’s expense.
Chris Sutton has now shared what he thinks is the biggest problem at Arsenal right now, which is similar to what Ian Wright has said.
Chris Sutton blames Arsenal recruitment over past 12 months
A few days ago, Ian Wright made it clear on the Wrighty’s House podcast that he wouldn’t be blaming Mikel Arteta or the players for Arsenal’s trophy-less season.
Wright sought to point the finger at Arsenal’s recruitment over the past 12 months as he hoped that Andrea Berta would get the chequebook out this summer.
Sutton has now also blamed Arsenal’s recruitment since last summer, saying their attempt to sign Ollie Watkins in January suggested they didn’t get things right.
“Arsenal are still heading in the right direction,” Sutton wrote on BBC Sport.
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“But the biggest problem for me has been their recruitment, especially for them to not sign a striker last summer.
“There are such fine margins between success and failure at the highest level, and you need someone to put away your chances in the biggest games.
“They basically admitted that by trying to sign Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa in January and if anyone or anything is to blame for another trophy-less season, then that’s where it lies.
“Now Arsenal need to refocus and make sure they don’t let second place slip away.”
Wright, meanwhile, said: “We literally couldn’t bring anyone off the bench to help that game in the semi-final of a Champions League.
“That is the only thing that I will point a finger at in respects of the recruitment.
“And this is why I’m hoping that Andrea Berta has got his book out and he’s ready to go.
“Because we are three or four players away from winning the league and winning the Champions League.”
Which strikers could Arsenal sign this summer?
TBR Football sources are refusing to rule out the likes of Watkins, Dusan Vlahovic and Hugo Ekitike for Arsenal.
However, TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey understands that it’s becoming increasingly obvious that Arsenal’s choice will be between two strikers in particular.
Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko are now emerging as the two most likely candidates for Arsenal.
Indeed, Arsenal have held talks with Sesko’s camp to explore a possible move recently, suggesting Berta is eager to find a solution for Arteta sooner rather than later.