Arsenal finished second to City for the second consecutive season. They aim to break a 21-year title drought and overcome City’s dominance, with Pep Guardiola’s team winning four straight league titles and six in seven years.
Carragher suggests Arsenal need a new left-back and a top attacker to bolster their squad. “I think they [Arsenal] need two players,” Carragher told Metro.co.uk. “They need a left-back and I think they need a great attacker.”
Oleksandr Zinchenko was Arsenal’s main left-back last season, but injuries and inconsistent performances left the position vulnerable. Zinchenko, who joined Arsenal in 2022, has been linked with a move away from the Emirates.
Upfront, Arsenal boasts attacking options like Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, and Leandro Trossard. Despite scoring 91 goals last season, just five fewer than City, Arsenal still fell short in the title race.
Carragher believes an additional top talent could make a difference.
“In some ways, throughout a lot of the season, they were the best team,” Carragher said. “When you look at the goals they scored, the xG difference and how strong they were defensively.
“The problem is that Man City have the best players, they have individuals like Foden, Haaland and De Bruyne. Arsenal just don’t have that quality at that end of the pitch. That’s why they need a top attacking player.”
He added: “Not necessarily a centre-forward. People keep saying they need a goalscorer. Sometimes you can have a goalscorer who plays wide. [Mohamed] Salah is like that for Liverpool. [Sadio] Mane was like that in the past. I just think they need another top attacking player to go alongside Bukayo Saka.
“Then one of the others can fill the other role – Martinelli, Trossard or Havertz. If they got another top attacker, you look at those five or six names, it is pretty tasty.”
Reports suggest Arsenal may see a major clear-out this summer to fund new signings.
Up to nine players, including Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson, Aaron Ramsdale, Kieran Tierney, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares, Zinchenko, and Jakub Kiwior, could be sold.
Source:
Metro UK