Alan Shearer has claimed Arsenal’s failure to sign a striker has cost the club the chance of winning the Premier League this season.
The Gunners have failed to recruit a striker in recent transfer windows, with Kai Havertz having operated as the spearhead in their attack for the majority of the season.
Havertz’s season-ending hamstring injury proved a damaging blow the Gunners, who had already seen their attacking options limited due the absence of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli.
Arsenal suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat to West Ham and had a goalless draw with Nottingham Forest in their Premier League matches.
The results have seen the Gunners fall 13 points adrift of league leaders Liverpool, with Mikel Arteta’s side looking set to finish as runners-up for the third successive season.
Speaking on Amazon Prime ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League last-16 tie with PSV, Shearer claimed there was ‘no doubt’ Arteta’s side would have claimed a league title had they signed a prolific forward.
Alan Shearer has claimed there is ‘no doubt’ Arsenal would win the league with a ‘great striker’
Mikel Arteta’s side been criticised for their failure to strengthen in attack in recent windows
Arsenal fell 13 points behind Liverpool after being shut out in their last two league matches
‘Whose decision was it to not get one in in January, and the beginning of the season? They needed one then, let alone in January,’ said Shearer, the Premier League’s record goalscorer.
‘Was it Mikel Arteta saying no, I’m happy with the squad I’ve got, or him saying get me a striker, and them failing to deliver for him.
‘We don’t know, so it’s difficult to comment on it, but that’s what they’ve missed and that’s what they’re missing. For me, there’s no doubt they’d win the league if they had a great striker.
‘When you get to the knockouts, the big centre-forwards make a difference. In terms of silverware, they have to put everything into this.’
Havertz has been Arsenal’s top scorer in the Premier League this season with nine goals in 21 appearances, followed by Martinelli and Saka, who have six and five goals respectively.
By contrast, Liverpool’s pursuit of the title has been spearheaded by Mohamed Salah’s 25 league goals.
Salah has been backed by a strong supporting cast, with Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo having notched nine and eight goals respectively.
Former England and Man United striker Wayne Rooney backed Shearer’s assessment.
Arsenal have been forced to play midfielder Mikel Merino in a makeshift forward role recently
Rooney, however, was sympathetic to the Gunners decision not to sign a forward in January but claimed their failure to strengthen in attack has proved a major mistake.
‘Not getting a striker in the summer was the biggest mistake,’ Rooney said.
‘In January it’s difficult getting the right player in in January. The priority has to be a number nine, that position is so important to have a goal-scorer who can get you 20, 30-odd goals.’
Arsenal have played midfielder Mikel Merino in a makeshift forward role in recent matches amid their shortage of forward options.
Despite their limited options in attack, the Gunners scored three first-half goals against PSV in the Champions League last-16 tie, with Merino joining Jurrien Timber and Ethan Nwaneri among the scorers.
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