James Goldman
Published May 21, 2025 1:24pmUpdated May 21, 2025 1:24pm
Ian Wright has implored Arsenal to sign a striker capable of making an instant impact, rather than one that would require a lengthy settling in period.
The Gunners are certain to invest heavily this summer after they secured Champions League football following last weekend’s 1-0 win over Newcastle United.
Second place for a third year in a row is also virtually assured, regardless of Sunday’s result against Southampton, but for Mikel Arteta’s men to be able to take the next step, many feel a new striker represents a priority.
Arsenal kept their powder dry in January despite the serious injuries sustained by Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, a decision that coincided with their title challenge collapsing.
Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins was offered to Arsenal but the north London club were not prepared to bid above £40million.
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The likes of Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres have been strongly linked with moves to the Emirates but both signings come with potential risks.
Alexander Isak represent Arteta’s dream signing but with Newcastle under little pressure to sell, Arsenal may well need to look elsewhere and Wright knows that whoever his old club ends up with, they won’t be given time to adapt.
Predicting who Arsenal will sign this summer
Goalkeeper: With Neto’s loan move unlikely to be turned into a permanent deal, Arsenal will undoubtedly look to sign a new No.2 to provide David Raya with more competition than he has faced this season. Teenagers Jack Porter and Tommy Setford are highly regarded but are not yet ready for a major promotion which goes some way to explaining Mikel Arteta’s interest in Espanyol’s Joan Garcia.
Defenders: Arsenal fans won’t want to hear it, but with Kieran Tierney, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior all likely to depart, a new left-sided defender will be a requirement, especially given the fitness travails of Takehiro Tomiyasu and Riccardo Calafiori.
Midfield: Nearly two years on from Granit Xhaka’s departure, Arsenal’s engine room still lacks the sort of balance they had in abundance when the Switzerland international was paired alongside Thomas Partey. Arsenal spent £160 million on Declan Rice and Kai Havertz but the experiment of deploying the former Chelsea man in midfield was ditched long ago. Arteta still appears to believe Rice can thrive in a more advanced role and the arrival of Martin Zubimendi, whose move to north London appears to be a matter of when, rather than if, could finally complete the puzzle.
Forwards: Attacking reinforcements have been in short supply over the last couple of years and an overreliance on Bukayo Saka yielded the sort of injury many feared had been in the post for a while. A new winger, ideally one comfortable on both flanks, should represent a priority. Nico Williams is a long-term target while at centre forward Victor Gyokeres appears the most attainable and ready made solution to the No.9 conundrum that has existed throughout Arteta’s reign.
James Goldman | Metro Sports Editor
‘I think that that the worry [for Arsenal] more than anything is that you can go out there and pay 60, 70, 80 for a striker and it doesn’t work,’ Wright told The Overlap.
‘I don’t think Arsenal can afford to get that striker that doesn’t hit the ground running for them.
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‘They have to get the one that they want, and maybe that is what Mikel is doing, and in the meantime, he’s trying to get by and again we’ve fallen short of it.’
Arteta, meanwhile, sent a clear message to the board in the aftermath of the narrow win over Newcastle and Wright was pleased to see the Arsenal manager speak so emphatically and directly.
He added: ‘What was really good about his [Arteta’s] interview the other day is the way he signed off by saying it’s up to them upstairs right now.
‘That’s him saying listen – otherwise bam. I hope so [that they get a top striker].’
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