Arsenal make 'final' decision on striker transfer as three-man shortlist revealed
Arsenal are beginning to narrow down their striker shortlist ahead of the summer transfer window. The Gunners have long been on the hunt for an elite-level forward to add to Mikel Arteta's squad with their goal-scoring woes, that disappeared over the last few months, returning in the weekend defeat to Aston Villa.
For only the second time in 13 league games, the Gunners failed to find the back of the net with the other blank coming away to Manchester City. In 2024, with Kai Havertz often up top, Arsenal have scored 41 goals in all competitions however, Arteta opted to move him back into midfield and deploy Gabriel Jesus centrally.
Arsenal had plenty of chances, with Martin Odegaard frequently the creator, but they could not get beyond a stubborn Villa defence. Following the defeat,Arteta was rather honest in his latest title assessment with this season's crown now in Manchester City's hands.
«If one result is going to do that then we are not strong enough,» he said in a press conference. «That’s very simple. We had one of the best performances that we’ve had all season in the first half against a really good team. It should have been three or four or more. It didn’t happen. In the second half the momentum shifted.
»We could not control and generate what we did in the first half. We conceded two very poor goals and we lost the game. Congratulate the opponent and stand up. Now the moment is to stand up and be counted. When you win and win and win for four months it’s very simple to do it. The moment to do it is now."
Even though Man City had won numerous trophies before the addition of Erling Haaland, his goals have been of great value to Guardiola with Arteta now on the search for his own version of the Norwegian
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