Following Arsenal’s third loss on the bounce and fourth in five league games, Mikel Arteta has seemingly dropped a major transfer hint ahead of the summer transfer window.
Arsenal’s recruitment over the last 18 months has been superb compared to what had transpired in the two or three years prior.
This past summer was especially impressive, with Martin Odegard, Ben White, Aaron Ramsdale slotting seamlessly into the Gunners’ first eleven and both Nuno Tavares and Albert Sambi Lokonga players for the future.
However, after losing to Southampton, Arteta bemoaned Arsenal’s lack of world-class players who have done it in the Premier League:
“It’s what we have”, the former Manchester City assistant coach said. “The players that we have, haven’t done it in this league.
“When you have world-class players who have done it in the league for ten years, I would probably say that. I am the first one to defend them, to support them, you see how they try.
“The only way to do it is to insist and what happened today might happen the next day or the next month.”
Arsenal need experience
Arteta’s comments make a lot of sense as, whilst Arsenal do look set for a bright future with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Ben White and more yet to hit their prime, there is a real lack of experience in their squad right now.
Granit Xhaka and Alexandre Lacazette are the only real senior options in the first eleven.
However, it is fair to say that Xhaka can be something of a loose cannon, whilst Lacazette is out of contract in the summer.
So, it seems obvious that Arsenal need to invest in one or two senior players with plenty of Premier League experience, preferably at the top level.
