Former Arsenal star Robert Pires is unsure whether a new number nine will help the Gunners win the Premier League title this season. Much of the conversation around the north Londoners this summer has been about whether they can sign a new striker.
Currently, Kai Havertz is assuming the responsibility up top and even found the net in his team’s 2-0 win over Wolves in their league opener on Saturday (August 17). Gabriel Jesus, who hasn’t enjoyed the best of times at the Emirates, is Mikel Arteta’s second choice.
However, Pires believes that the quality of players in that position has declined over the years. As a result, he feels that Arsenal don’t necessarily need to make such a signing. Speaking on The Obi One Podcast, he said:
“I don’t know (If a new no. 9 will help them win the league). When we look at Arsenal, normally it would be Gabriel Jesus in that role. But unfortunately for him and the Gunners, he was injured a lot.
“So Arteta found a good solution at the end. He deployed Havertz as a sort of false no. 9 and he scored a lot of goals at the end of the season. So the balance was just right for Arteta.”
He added:
“But now it’s very difficult to find a great no. 9 like a Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, or Thierry Henry. It’s not the money I’m talking about, it’s the quality of players now. Money is nothing for these big clubs, but the quality (from previous years) cannot be matched.”
Throughout the transfer window, the Gunners have been linked with the likes of Ivan Toney, Victor Osimhen, and Alexander Isak, among other strikers.
Ex-Premier League manager says Ivan Toney’s agent wants Brentford striker to join Arsenal
Former Premier League manager Alan Pardew has revealed on talkSPORT that Brentford striker Ivan Toney’s agent wants his client to move to Arsenal this summer. The England international only has a year left on his current contract with the Bees.
Therefore, it would seem reasonable for Brentford to sell the player rather than let him walk away for free in 2025. Speaking about this situation to talkSPORT, Pardew said (via Football London):
“Let me tell you. I know Toney’s agent personally, and I think he would like the boy to go to Arsenal. There you go, there’s a bit of insight.”
Speculations over Toney’s move was further ignited by the fact that he was left out of Brentford’s squad for their league opener on Sunday against Crystal Palace (August 18).
