Arsenal secured a resounding 6-0 victory over West Ham United at London Stadium on Sunday, keeping the pressure on Premier League leaders Liverpool and Manchester City. This exceptional display showcased their strong contention for the league title in the current 2023-24 season. However, doubts linger regarding their ability to surpass their second-place finish from the previous season, with Garth Crooks highlighting their lack of a formidable number nine as a potential downfall.
In his BBC column discussing Arsenal’s triumph over the Hammers, Crooks stated, “While their triumph over West Ham was impressive, Arsenal’s aspirations of clinching the title are hindered by the absence of a top-class natural finisher in the center-forward position.”
In the absence of Gabriel Jesus due to injury, Leandro Trossard spearheaded Arsenal’s attack, contributing a goal to their impressive six-goal tally against West Ham. Eddie Nketiah also made a significant impact after coming off the bench.
Notably, Bukayo Saka’s performance was outstanding as he netted his tenth league goal of the season, establishing himself as Arsenal’s leading scorer. The English international’s ruthless efficiency will undoubtedly drive him to continue finding the back of the net as Arsenal strive to secure their first league title since 2004.
Crooks is not alone in recognizing the Gunners’ need for a striker to elevate their chances of championship success. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta shares this sentiment and is likely to pursue the signing of a striker during the summer transfer window. Whether it will be Brentford’s Ivan Toney, Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, or another player altogether remains uncertain.
According to the Source caughtoffside.com