Arsenal’s Need for Wingers and Strikers
Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has made a strong case for the club to consider selling several of its attacking players ahead of the next season. This comes as Arsenal, who recently lost the Champions League final to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties, look to rebuild their squad for future success.
The Gunners managed to secure their first Premier League title in 22 years this season, but they were left heartbroken after missing out on a historic double. The loss in the Champions League final was particularly painful, with Eberechi Eze and Gabriel both failing to convert their penalty kicks in Budapest.
Manager Mikel Arteta has emphasized the need for the club to be “very ambitious” during the summer transfer window. He recognizes that improvements are needed across several positions, including the left side of the attack, striker, right-back, and midfield. To achieve these goals, Arsenal may have to make tough decisions regarding some of their current players.
Petit specifically highlighted the need to sell Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke, and Gabriel Jesus. He believes that the team requires stronger and more consistent wingers with technical skills who can make a significant impact on the field.
Evaluating the Current Squad
Bukayo Saka has firmly established himself as the go-to player on the right wing, but Arsenal have struggled to find a reliable backup for the 24-year-old. Last summer’s signing of Noni Madueke has not lived up to expectations, with his performances often inconsistent.
On the left wing, both Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli have shown mixed form, and neither has clearly secured a starting position. Petit acknowledged that while Trossard is a player he would keep, Madueke needs to improve significantly.
Regarding the striker position, Viktor Gyokeres has not met the high expectations set upon him since joining the club for £63.5 million last summer. Despite scoring 21 goals in total, only six of those came against newly promoted teams, and none against traditional ‘Big Six’ sides except for two against Tottenham.
Gyokeres also struggled in the latter stages of the season, scoring just once after four goals in the Champions League group stages. He was eventually dropped for the final in favor of Kai Havertz.
Potential New Signings
To address these issues, Arsenal is reportedly looking at potential targets such as Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi. Rogers, valued at £80 million, has scored 10 goals in all competitions this season, including 10 in the Premier League. He is expected to play a key role for Thomas Tuchel’s side at the upcoming World Cup.
Kroupi, on the other hand, has made a remarkable debut in the Premier League, scoring 13 goals – the highest by any teenager in a debut campaign. His achievements include scoring against Arsenal, Manchester City, and Manchester United, making him the first teenager to score against all three top-three finishers in a single season.
Trossard, who made 31 Premier League appearances this season, scored six goals, while Madueke managed just three in his 26 top-flight outings. Gabriel Jesus, meanwhile, also scored only three league goals this season. The former Manchester City striker has faced injury challenges over the past four years, making just 84 Premier League appearances – less than half of the possible 152.
