Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has warned that Mikel Arteta can not afford to make similar expensive mistakes to their Premier League rivals Liverpool and Manchester United. The Gunners’ season objective is to now solidify their place in next season’s Champions League after falling out of the title race and the elite European competition.
Sunday’s draw with Liverpool means that Arne Slot’s side sit 15 points clear at the summit going into the final two matches. Arsenal’s comeback provided a glimpse of solace after they were dumped out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain in midweek.
The Gunners have been crying out for a striker for a number of seasons, making just one addition in the last seven seasons in that department.
Injuries and their attacking deficiencies have hampered their title challenge, as well as costing them the opportunity to make their first major European final since the defeat in Paris in 2006.
The summer is poised to be a crucial one at the Emirates Stadium with pressure beginning to mount on Mikel Arteta as they risk stagnating and unravelling their previous work.
Wright, who is an icon in north London, has fired a stark warning to Arteta and the Arsenal recruitment team not to make big-money mistakes like Liverpool and United.
Both North West clubs shelled out eye-watering figures for talismanic figures, but both players have failed to live up to their expensive price tags.
Nunez, 25, faces an uncertain future at Anfield following interest from the Saudi Pro League during the winter transfer window.
Although the Uruguayan will pick up a Premier League winners’ medal for his efforts this season, including a dramatic double to earn a crucial three points at Brentford, he has managed just five league goals in 28 outings this term.
At Old Trafford, Hojlund is three years Nunez’s junior and has had an equally difficult spell in the English top-flight.
The Dane has scored just 14 goals in 60 Premier League appearances, four of which have come in 30 appearances during a poor season for the Red Devils.
“You look at Rasmus Hojlund, and he had nine goals for Atalanta, the money they paid for him [£72m], you’re taking a chance on potential,” said Wright.
“Look at Darwin Nunez, £85m. I’m not sure Arsenal can afford to go in and get it wrong like that.
“Yes, we desperately need a striker but we need a kind of striker whose going to come in and will score because we can’t do a Hojlund or a Nunez.
“I think there will be money for him [Arteta] in the summer but we can’t afford to buy a striker that doesn’t work because let’s face it with them two, they’ve not worked up until this point.
“Arsenal again are fishing in a place where everybody is so you’re going to have to pay a premium but you’re going to have to make sure you get somebody whose going to deliver for you.”
