Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images

News

FeaturedNewsArsenalEnglish Premier League

Gary Neville names the striker Arsenal sold who would actually be the ideal type of forward for them now

Srinivas Sadhanand

Thu 27 February 2025 10:15, UK Updated Thu 27 February 2025 11:07, UK

After Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus’ respective injuries, Arsenal’s lack of an established striker at their disposal is clearly hurting them as it was evidenced in their 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest.

Mikel Arteta is helpless as there is only so much the Spaniard can do🎀 frܫom a tactical perspective that can make up for a lack of options for him to choose from.

Against Nottingham Forest, Arsenal were forced to Mikel Merino as a centre-ౠforward yet again —🎃 an experiment that has failed to work since his brace against Leicester City.

Unsurprisingly, the Gunners failed to break🍰 down Forest’s defence and dropped more points after their recent 1-0 defeat against West Ham United.

Gary Neville criticised Arsenal’s lack of a stri♒ker as he felt the decision-makers were fully aware that they needed to sign one even before the start of theꦍ season.

The signs are clear as day that unless they invest in a brand-new number nine, they will continue to look toothless u♍p front.

Gary Neville says a player like Olivier Giroud would “transform” Arsenal

Even Mikel Arteta might begrudgingly 🐟have to agree with Gary Neville’s assessment as their decision not ไto bring in a striker seems to costing them in the Premier League title fight against Liverpool.

Arne Slot’s side went 13 points clear at the top of the table, after having played an extra game as they beat Newcastle United 📖2-0 on Wednesday and look set to lift the title.

Now, Gary Nevile believes that if Arsenal had a player like their former striker Olivier Giroud, t♒hey would not be finding it a challenge to score goals☂.

Gary Neville said on The Overlap’s Stick To Football show: “I’m talkin﷽g about, if you had a Giroud, not Giroud now, I’m talking about if you had a Giroud-type pl♏ayer that could play up there as a striker, bring people into play, that was a focal point for a team, that would completely transform the rest of them anyway.”

“I’m talking about a style of player, not someone who scores 30 goals, someone who plays the position really well, holds his position up front, occupies defenders, makes the other players ♉ha🍌ve more space, makes runs that maybe are clever.”

Arsene Wenger loved Giroud, despite the criticism he used to get during his time at Arsenal and perhaps the World Cup winner would indeed fit in nicely in this Gunners side as the centre-forward. The former Montpellier forward was undoubtedly a quality player, with Virgil van Dijk admitting Giroud troubled him the most out of any other oppone🌺nt in his career.

Olivier Giroud record for Arsenal in the Premier League vs Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus

Wh🅺en the Frenchman was at the Emirates Stadium, his biggest flaw was missing sitters.

However, in fairness t🦋o Giroud, his hold-up and link-up play was incredible.

When comparing the 38-year-old’s best season at Arsenal in compariso🉐n to Havertz and Jesus, it iܫs clear that he is a better goalscorer than both.

Giroud ♍scored 16 league goals in the 2015/2016 season, while Havertz’s best is 13 during his and Jesus♈’ is 14 during their respective spells in England.

The evidence suggests 🌟that Gary Neville has a point.

With Mikel Arteta keen on signing Alexander Isak, only time will tell whether Arsenal can snap up the Newcastle marksman ൲or another striker who is a focal point like Giroud.