“He is the main problem Arteta keeps having; they failed to win the league last season because of him; now Arteta should learn from his mistakes.” Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp advises Arteta to quit using £70 million players or else they will bottle the league again.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has received a caution ahead of the upcoming Premier League season. The Gunners are expected to be strong contenders in the 2024/25 title race, having finished as runners-up in the previous two seasons. They narrowly missed out on the championship by just two points in the 2023/24 campaign, raising hopes among fans that they can finally secure the title this time around.

However, ESPN’s Shaka Hislop has expressed doubts about Arsenal’s prospects if certain players remain in key positions. Specifically, Hislop has questioned whether Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are the right players to lead Arsenal to Premier League glory.

Concerns Over Kai Havertz’s Role

Hislop has been vocal about his skepticism regarding Kai Havertz’s effectiveness as a leading striker for Arsenal. Despite Havertz’s notable performances, Hislop isn’t convinced that he can be the focal point of a title-winning attack. He shared his views on ESPN FC, stating that while Havertz has had moments of brilliance, he does not see him as a striker capable of spearheading a team to the Premier League title.

Hislop also expressed concerns about Gabriel Jesus, citing injuries that have impacted his form since joining Arsenal. According to Hislop, both Havertz and Jesus need to show more consistency and reliability to be considered capable of leading Arsenal to a championship.

Potential Signings and Strengthening Arsenal’s Attack

Despite these concerns, Arsenal is making moves to bolster their squad. They are reportedly close to signing Riccardo Calafiori and have identified Mikel Merino as a top target. These additions could strengthen the team, but Hislop believes the attacking line still requires attention.

Arsenal is actively seeking to strengthen their forward options, recognizing that they currently lack a prolific goal scorer akin to Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. The team has been linked with several strikers, including Viktor Gyokeres and Victor Osimhen. There are reports that Arsenal might make a bid for Gyokeres if Eddie Nketiah completes a move to Marseille. Additionally, transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio has suggested that Arsenal could still pursue Osimhen, who is reportedly eager to leave Napoli.

The coming weeks will be crucial as Arsenal seeks to finalize their squad before the transfer window closes. The potential signings of Gyokeres or Osimhen could address the concerns raised by Hislop and provide the team with the firepower needed to challenge for the Premier League title.