Signing a striker will not solve Arsenal’s problems and the Gunners should instead look to improve their creativity ahead of next season, believes Jamie Carragher.
Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes are all but over following a return of two points – and one goal – from games against West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United.
They are now 15 points adrift of leaders Liverpool with just a single game in hand, and Arne Slot’s Reds only need 16 points from their final nine matches to clinch the title.
Mikel Arteta’s side were heavily criticised for failing to acquire a striker in the January transfer window, when they failed with a big-money move for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.
But speaking in his role as a pundit for Sky Sports on Monday, Carragher insisted their problems lie elsewhere.
“The problem they have is not a finishing problem,” Carragher said. “It’s a creation problem.
“They don’t create enough chances. That’s the biggest problem that they’ve got right now.”
No Arsenal player has reached double figures for goals in the Premier League this campaign. Kai Havertz has nine but has suffered a season-ending injury, while Gabriel Martinelli is their next-most prolific player with six goals.
However, Carragher does not believe the addition of an elite number nine would automatically improve Arteta’s side.
He said: “I keep going back to people saying they need a number nine. If Arsenal had a number nine – let’s say Erling Haaland – would they have scored more goals?
“Of course they would, because he’s a top striker and a great finisher, but on the basis of those three games, the best chances they had, Haaland doesn’t make any difference. He does not.”
Arsenal’s underlying attacking figures support Carragher’s theory. Their total expected goals (xG) figure of 45 for the season ranks them sixth in the Premier League, behind 13th-placed Tottenham (47.15) and only marginally ahead of Crystal Palace (44.89).
The Gunners have overperformed their xG figures, netting 52 times, while their shot conversion rate of 13.33% is only marginally down on their figure of 13.85% from last season – when they scored 91 goals.
But they are averaging just 1.21 expected assists (xA) per league game this season, a noticeable drop-off from their 2023-24 average of 1.52.
Captain Martin Odegaard, who only has two goals and three assists this term, has come in for criticism in the creative department, and Carragher feels he needs more support.
“Forget bringing in a number nine, the first thing they might have to do is sign more creative players,” Carragher said.
“It looks like they’re going to buy [Martin] Zubimendi in the summer and maybe replace [Thomas] Partey in the holding midfield position. You’re getting a different profile of player.
“That first step to actually being more creative next season will help them be a bit more competitive in the Premier League.”
