Former Arsenal striker, Alan Smith believes the Gunners will need to invest in three key positions this summer to mount another serious title challenge next season.
After leading the Premier League for the majority of this season, it’s looking likely Arsenal will finish in second place after handing the advantage to Manchester City with five games left to play.
Mikel Arteta’s side are still two points clear at the summit but City now have two games in hand with a more favourable fixture list ahead of them.
Pep Guardiola’s side play before Arsenal on Sunday against Fulham so they will have a chance go move above the Gunners until Arsenal face Chelsea the following Tuesday.
Arsenal legend, Alan Smith believes a centre-half, a midfielder and another striker are needed if the Gunners are to launch another title challenge next season.
Mikel Arteta has seen his side drop crucial points in the title race recently which coincided with the absence of William Saliba who had been ever present in the Arsenal back-line this season, until he picked up a lower back injury against Fulham.
The drop points have put a major dent in Arsenal’s hopes to win the Premier League for the first time in 19 years and that’s why Alan Smith believes another central defender should be at the top of Arsenal’s shortlist this summer, so the same problem doesn’t happen next season.
West Ham United star Declan Rice is said to be Arsenal’s number one transfer priority this summer ahead of next season, which Alan Smith believes will be a good signing for the Gunners as they are set to compete in the Champions League for the first time since 2017.
Declan Rice of West Ham. [Image Credit: Getty Images]
Alan Smith told Sky Sports:
“I think you’re probably looking through the heart of the team, through the centre. We’ve obviously seen how they’ve suffered without Wiliam Saliba and the drop-off was quite drastic really, no manager would want to see that so they miss the Frenchman.
Thomas Partey has been a bit in and out this season, when Xhaka didn’t play they missed him certainly.
There’s been a lot of attention on Arsenal’s central midfield, possibly Declan Rice coming. That’s going to be a saga in the summer. Where’s the West Ham midfielder going to end up, it looks like he’s going to leave the Hammers.
Possibly another forward to compete with Jesus, they’ve got Eddie Nketiah but I think the centre-half and the central midfielder that will start games.
Jakub Kiwior, the defender who came in in January, could develop into a very good player so that might be a bit premature because they bought one in Kiwior but Mikel Arteta didn’t feel he was ready yet and Rob Holding got the shout.”
