Lee Dixon has told Mikel Arteta that Arsenal still need an 'elite' centre forward despite praising Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres, as the club look to add more quality before their Premier League opener against Coventry City next Friday.
Arsenal's summer business and ongoing needs
The Gunners have already signed Illan Meslier, Christos Tzolis and Bruno Guimaraes this summer, but they remain active in the transfer window, targeting a centre-back and a left winger. A blockbuster move for Vinicius Junior failed, but talks are set to reopen with Aston Villa for Ezri Konsa to cover for the injured William Saliba.
While Dixon agrees another centre-half would be ideal, the former Arsenal defender believes the attack also needs more firepower. Gyokeres scored 21 goals in all competitions in his first season at the Emirates, while Havertz is hoping for a better campaign after an injury-hit one last time out.
Dixon's verdict on the current strikers
Speaking to BestBettingSites, Dixon said: 'Kai Havertz is a very good player – I like Havertz a lot – and Viktor Gyokeres gives us another dimension, but a natural, out-and-out centre-forward you can completely hang your hat on is rare.'
'They're just not at that level right now. We were talking about this with the England setup under Thomas Tuchel – you look behind Harry Kane, and while Ollie Watkins is there, there aren't massive numbers of elite, natural goalscorers.'
Dixon compared the current situation to his playing days, noting the depth of strikers available then. 'In my day, Ian Wright couldn't get in the team, Robbie Fowler couldn't get in, Teddy Sheringham had to play as a number 10, and you had Les Ferdinand. You had eight or nine top-class strikers all trying to get ahead of Alan Shearer. It's not the same at club level now – where are those natural goalscorers? The game has evolved away from the traditional number 9.'
Despite his concerns, Dixon remains optimistic about Gyokeres. 'That said, I do like Gyokeres. If Arsenal play to his strengths a bit more this season, he will score a hatful. Last season, Odegaard barely passed to him at times – Gyokeres would make the run and the ball just wasn't played.'
Transfer links and Arteta's stance
Arsenal have been linked with Julian Alvarez this summer, but Atletico Madrid have held firm despite interest from Arsenal and Barcelona. After Wednesday's pre-season draw with Como, Arteta said the club are still looking to make signings but admitted there are 'very few players' who can improve his squad.
'There is more that we want to do because every time we have an opportunity to improve the squad and bring more quality and depth to the squad, we need to do that,' Arteta said. 'But we are actively trying to do so. The thing in the market, it doesn't just depend on you, and we are very clear on that.'
'But the approach, the will and the desire of the club, that's unquestionable, and we want to try to do that. But we cannot promise that we're going to do it because, again, it doesn't only depend on us. For the margins to improve there are very few players in the market who are available to do that and bring that to the club. But again, we are actively looking to improve that and we are going to try.'
Dixon concluded that centre-half and centre-forward are key positions to address, adding that it is 'probably what every team in the Premier League is looking for.' Arsenal will hope to finalise their business before the season starts, with the transfer window still open.
