"Margins are really thin" - Pundit names 2 players who could cost Arsenal the Premier League title next season
Former West Ham United goalkeeper and pundit Shaka Hislop has warned Arsenal that forwards Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz could potentially hurt their title chances in the 2024-25 season. The Gunners have finished second in the Premier League table in the last two seasons, narrowly missing out on the title to Manchester City in both instances.
Jesus has struggled for form in recent months, with the Brazilian attacker scoring just four Premier League goals last season. It was a far cry from his debut season at the Emirates Stadium when he scored 11 league goals. Havertz managed 13 league goals after a move from Chelsea last summer.
However, as far as Hislop is concerned, the two players as striking options won't be enough for the Gunners to win the title. He told ESPN (via HITC):
"It really comes down to Arsenal's attacking options. While Havertz popped up at times, popped up at key moments in key games with goals, I am just not sold on Havertz as a striker to lead a team to win the Premier League."
About Jesus, he added:
"I feel the same about Gabriel Jesus, who I thought started wonderfully well when he first joined Arsenal. But because of injuries it waned. There is still that department to be addressed. Mikel Arteta is right, margins are really thin, especially when you consider just how good Manchester City continue to be."
Mikel Arteta will be hoping that the squad at his disposal after the transfer window concludes will be strong enough to end Manchester City's domination of the league.
Former Premier League striker talks about two attackers who have struggled at Arsenal
Former Premier League striker Gabby Agbonlahor believes Gabriel Jesus is "not the answer" to the Gunners' striker woes. Agbonlahor also mentioned that academy graduate Eddie Nketiah has failed to meet expectations as the club.
Nketiah was handed a new contract to keep him at the Emirates Stadium in 2022, but he has scored just nine Premier League goals in the following two seasons. This, according to Agbonlahor, is not good enough, as the ex-striker said on talkSPORT (via Arsenal Insider):
“If I am Arsenal, I am saying, ‘Nketiah, we gave you £100,000-a-week [and] we gave you Thierry Henry’s number. You are not that guy, and that’s okay. It hasn’t worked’. He is still a Premier League player but a mid-table Premier League striker. Gabriel Jesus and him are not the answer.”
The Gunners are reportedly in the market for a new striker and will be hoping they can find the player they need as they look to challenge across four competitions next season.