Ex-Arsenal star urges club to sign '25-goal' striker as Arteta loses it with £48m flop

One of Mikel Arteta’s former Arsenal team-mates has told the Spaniard he needs to target a ’25-goal’ striker if the Gunners are to finally end their wait for another Premier League title. The club is currently reeling following the shock news that sporting director Edu is to leave, having agreed a deal to work with Evangelos Marinakis and his band of clubs that include Nottingham Forest. 

However, as the search for the Brazilian’s replacement begins, it’s not just off the field where the Gunners have pressing concerns that need addressing.

The 1-0 defeat at Newcastle on Saturday left Arsenal seven points off Premier League leaders Liverpool, and raised fresh questions over their cutting edge after an ineffective attacking display.

For all their lauded progress, Arteta’s team has long been plagued by the perception that they lack the world-class No.9 needed to turn potential into major silverware. Wide man Bukayo Saka was their top league scorer in the 2023/24 campaign with 16 goals, while Kai Havertz leads the way with four this time around.

But the current occupant of the famous nine shirt hasn’t scored in the Premier League since January 30. Gabriel Jesus’ opener in the 2-1 win at Forest was his fourth and final of goal of last season, and he’s yet to get off the mark in the top flight this campaign. Overall, he’s scored once in 13 games in the present campaign, in an EFL Cup tie at Preston.

The Brazilian striker was a much-hailed signing when he arrived from Manchester City in the summer of 2022 for a £48million fee. However, his tally of 20 goals in 82 matches since equates to less than one every four games, and Arteta appears to have finally lost patience.

Jesus, 27, has started just one of Arsenal’s 10 Premier League matches and was again confined to a late cameo in the loss at St James’ Park. And now Henri Lansbury, who was at the Emirates from 2007 to 2012, has called for Arteta to go into the transfer market.

“I’ve said it for a couple of years now, I think they need an out-and-out striker,” he told Ladbrokes. “I think they need a number nine who will go and score them goals. They need someone who’ll guarantee them 25 goals a season.”

Arsenal’s reported striker search in the summer ultimately proved a futile one, with the club linked with the likes of Ivan Toney, Viktor Gyokores, and Victor Osimhen. Speculation remains over a January move for RB Leipzig man Benjamin Sesko, but their transfer activity is likely to be disrupted by the departure of Edu.

Arteta has not been afraid to be ruthless since taking over a manager in December 2019, opting to move on high-profile forwards like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexander Lacazette. And Jesus now looks a prime candidate to be sold if funds are needed to supplement a big-money move for a striker.

The Palmeiras graduate is scontracted at the Emirates until 2027, meaning the club could still command a healthy fee in January or next summer. However, Arsenal are likely to have to accept a lower fee than what they paid City themselves, given the player’s struggles for form and fitness in the past two years.