In the wake of Gabriel Jesus' injury, football legend Gary Lineker has urged Arsenal to consider signing a young striker. This advice comes as the club continues its search for a proven goalscorer, an issue that has been at the forefront of discussions for quite some time.
Over the past two seasons, Mikel Arteta has refrained from signing a proven goalscorer. Instead, he relied heavily on Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus. However, with Arsenal's quest for their first title in over two decades still ongoing, it is evident that this approach hasn't been sufficient.
Arsenal desperately needs a goalscorer who can break open games where they struggle to create clear-cut chances. This need was highlighted once again during their recent FA Cup third round match against Manchester United.
Dependence on set-pieces and impact of injuries
The Gunners were taken to penalties by Manchester United in this match and ultimately lost on spot kicks. For weeks now, they have been overly dependent on set-pieces for scoring goals.
Compounding these issues is the loss of Gabriel Jesus due to injury - an eventuality that could sideline him for months or even end his season prematurely. His absence leaves Arsenal looking very thin up top and underscores Arteta's urgent need to sign a new striker.
Lineker’s proposal
Gary Lineker was among those who foresaw this predicament. Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast recently, he suggested that Arsenal should consider Ipswich Town talent Liam Delap as they scour the market for potential strikers.
Gary Lineker, Premier League legend, said:
"I said it at the beginning of the season, I felt that’s what they [Arsenal] needed and I think that would possibly cost them the league not investing in that position."
"They could go for a young, up-and-coming one, because once they’re proven you can’t get them, but someone like Delap I see has got a real something about him,”
Delap is just 21 years old but already boasts eight goals so far this season with Ipswich Town - making him an attractive prospect as per Lineker's recommendation. As things stand now, Arsenal's need for a proven goalscorer is more pressing than ever. With the loss of Gabriel Jesus to injury and their over-reliance on set-pieces for goals, it's clear that they need a fresh approach. Lineker’s suggestion of signing young talent like Liam Delap could be the solution Arsenal needs to end their title drought and bring back glory days to the Emirates Stadium.
