Clinton Morrison thinks Arsenal must sign an upgrade on an ‘outstanding’ favourite of Mikel Arteta this summer to try to fight Manchester City for the title again next season.
The Gunners have pushed the Citizens to the final day of the campaign this term. But Arteta is relying on a favour from West Ham United and David Moyes to guide Arsenal to their first Premier League title in 20 years. A win against Everton alone will not be enough on Sunday.
Arsenal go into the final day of the season two points behind Manchester City, who host the Irons. A draw at Etihad Stadium and a Gunners win over the Toffees would see the Emirates Stadium natives win the title. Arsenal boast the superior goal difference at +61 to +60 so far.
Clinton Morrison urges Arsenal to sign an upgrade on Kai Havertz
Yet Morrison feels Arsenal are lacking at striker and must sign an out-and-out No9 to replace Kai Havertz this summer. Arteta has favoured the 24-year-old as their best centre-forward of late. Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah have both produced frustrating terms in north London.
Havertz has started 11 of Arsenal’s last 15 Premier League games as a striker in which he has scored seven goals and laid on six assists. In the same stretch, Jesus has started four games including in two as a left winger. Nketiah last started in a top-flight match on New Year’s Eve.
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So, with out-and-out centre-forwards Jesus and Nketiah falling out of favour, Morrison feels Arsenal must sign a proper No9. As much as the former Crystal Palace striker admires what Havertz has offered Arteta, he does not believe the attacking midfielder is the long-term fix.
Morrison told BBC Radio 5 Live (17/5, 19:28): “Havertz has been outstanding and there is a role for him in that team. He has been fantastic but I think they need a No9.
“I think they will go and get them, get that person in the summer. When they do get [a No9] they will be challenging Manchester City again and pushing them right to the wire again.”
Kai Havertz earned his role after Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah’s plights
Arteta initially experimented with playing Havertz as a centre-forward in October when Man City visited Arsenal. He introduced the German as a late substitute after Nketiah failed to hit home. Jesus had also started the fixture but on the right wing as Bukayo Saka had an injury.
The experiment paid off as Havertz laid the ball off to Gabriel Martinelli, whose shot flashed home via a deflection off Nathan Ake’s. Yet Havertz did not play as a No9 in another Premier League game until Liverpool visited Emirates Stadium when Arteta was without Jesus, again.
Jesus suffered another aggravation of the knee injury he initially suffered at the 2022 World Cup in January. It was the second time this term Arteta was without the 27-year-old due to his knee. The Brazilian, with four goals in 26 games, also had a hamstring injury in October.
Nketiah got the nod to replace Jesus during the first two of the Brazilian’s absences. While he also enjoyed a hat-trick after coming in at home to Sheffield United last October, the 24-year-old has not hit the back of a net since. He has five goals in 27 league games all season