This is Mikel Arteta’s fifth season in charge and you feel something has got to give, in regards to putting a trophy in the cabinet after winning the FA Cup in his debut campaign.
Arsenal narrowly missed out on the Premier League title to Manchester City in 2023/24 and the majority of the fans appreciated what the team produced.
Despite securing a club transfer for Declan Rice – and he did improve the squad – it still wasn’t enough for the team to get over the line.
It just further proves the trophy-winning obstacle – Manchester City – that stands in the way of the London giants.
What do Arsenal need to get them over that line? Improve the best defence in the Premier League even further? Or enhance their firepower?
That’s someone who can come in, improve the defence, fit in at left-back and play at centre-back as well if need be.
But Gabby Agbonlahor is insistent that the Gunners need to bring in a number nine, although, he didn’t take too kindly to the suggestion that it should be Ollie Watkins.
The England international struck 19 Premier League goals for Aston Villa last term and guided Unai Emery’s side to the Champions League.
But Agbonlahor made it clear that Watkins wouldn’t want to move to the Emirates because he ‘doesn’t want that nonsense’, as he highlighted how the all-action striker is already at a ‘big club’, as he told talkSPORT (23/07/24 at 4:15 pm).
Watkins did sign a new Villa contract last summer, so even if Arsenal had the money, they would find it pretty difficult to lure the player out of his current home.
Ollie Watkins wouldn’t join Arsenal
“You know who a proper striker is for them, Ollie Watkins,” said presenter Ade Oladipo.
Agbonlahor responded: “Pardon?! I beg your pardon?” Oladipo then added, with Agbonlahor laughing in the background: “Everyone says Ivan Toney, but I look at Ollie Watkins, of course, he is more than happy at Aston Villa. But you think what could be that missing key? The way he plays and runs in behind.”
Agbonlahor then admitted: “Odegaard getting on the ball and finding them through balls that he makes. The service he would get from Saka as well. Oh, he would be amazing. But he is at a big club. He doesn’t want to go to Arsenal. He doesn’t want that nonsense. He wants to stay at Aston Villa.”
Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa celebrates after scoring his team's 2nd goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Aston Villa at Emi...
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Arsenal need to trust Mikel Arteta
Once upon a time, Arsenal fans were calling for Arteta’s head when they recorded back-to-back eighth-place finishes.
But they needed to go backwards, in order to clean themselves up, so they could motor forward again.
Yes, the critics would suggest that the title should have been delivered by now, but a little bit more patience is needed.
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