Three nights after one of the most wonderful Dubai adventures for Arsenal, when all came together on the most cheerful of times for Mikel Arteta, his people and the followers against Manchester City, the bubble was burst by Newcastle.
It wasnt particularly serious or even unexpected this just happens to Arsenal: a great deep is followed soon after by a miserable low.
Alexander Isak bullying William Saliba has significantly bolstered the Arsenal Need A Proper Striker narrative, which returns after an amusingly brief hiatus. But were far from convinced that the Raiders are just that one person apart from winning the Premier League, or anything for that topic.
We think these five players will need upgrading in the summer for Arsenal to challenge Liverpool, or whichever other club ( s ) steal a march on them in the meantime.
Kai Havertz
Youll have to imagine that like every pundit on TV and radio, were stretching our arms out and raising our eyebrows while insisting We Like Havertz As Much As The Next Guy before we pick him apart for not being good enough to lead the line for Arsenal.
Were getting a little tired of the Hes No A Striker disclaimer, because he terrible also is, simply not a particularly good one. He was Germanys scorer at the Euros, played his best sport for Chelsea as their No. 9 and very swiftly moved into that place at Arsenal because Artetas program for him to change Granit Xhaka was ill-advised and failed dramatically because really, hes never a playmaker.
Hes also definitely not a natural finisher and no amount of goals between now and the end of the season for Havertz if he hits an unlikely hot streak should sway Arsenal from signing a goalscorer in the summer. Benjamin Sesko or Victor Osimhen for our money.
READ MORE: Alexander Isak destroys William Saliba as Arsenal denied Carabao Cup and PL name by Man City cover-up
Gabriel Martinelli
No-one wants to see a player get injured, but we could almost feel the Arsenal lover fist-clenching in mini-celebrations at Ethan Nwaneris first entry in place of Martinelli against Newcastle.
The teenager was unable to turn the Arsenal tanker cruising towards a limp and humbling defeat around at St James Park, but there was palpable anticipation and excitement when Nwaneri got on the ball, in stark contrast to Martinelli, who appears to have had most of the unpredictability and verve beaten out of him, with his football far more formulaic, and far less effective. 19659013]ts imp ssib e ot o
Its impossible not to compare him with Bukayo Saka when theyre both fit given they were thought to be on a level a couple of seasons ago, and the England international now beats Martinelli hands down both in the eye test and on paper. ]96590 4]It w ll be very d ffi u t to s ur e a player g od enough Martinelli. Nico Williams would be a big step up.
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Mikel Merino
We were slightly confused by his signing at the time and are now utterly baffled. We wonder whether Merino and to a lesser extent Riccardo Calafiori were Edus late attempts to sabotage the good he had done as Arsenals sporting director before leaving them for what has turned out to be a direct rival in Nottingham Forest. They spent a combined 65m on players they didnt need.
Basking in Declan Rice being one of very few Premier League record signings to actually be worth the moneythey took the slightly odd step of signing another Declan Rice to watch Declan Rice from the bench as Merinos not anywhere near as good as the actual Declan Rice.
Guys, Martin Zubimendi was right there.
Leandro Trossard
Were not suggesting that Trossard needs to be sent packing or that he hasnt been a successful signing, 20m was a snip, but hes a squad player, not someone who should be starting regularly in a team challenging for the title.
The injuries to Saka and Odegaard has seen him play more often than he otherwise would have done, but similar problems for Liverpool would see Arne Slot turn to one of Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota or Cody Gakpo as a back-up, all of whom would be starting for Arsenal.
READ MORE: Arsenal January panic buys ranked as Arteta chases new striker after Zubimendi agreement
Thomas Partey
Hes played more and better than anyone would have thought this season, but Arsenal dont want to put themselves in a similar position to Manchester United, where the speedy demise of Casemiro at a similar stage of his career to Partey left them horribly exposed with no alternative to replace him. With Jorginho leaving at the end of the season likely forcing them to find a new defensive midfielder, continuing to perform at what has been a surprisingly high level should be seen as a bonus for Arsenal rather than something they can rely on. Guys, please don’t renew Partey’s contract. for a variety of reasons.
