Martin Keown has dismissed the need for Arsenal to sign a new striker, insisting that right-back is the position Mikel Arteta must address before the transfer window closes. The former Gunners defender made his comments ahead of Arsenal's Community Shield clash with Manchester City on Sunday and their Premier League title defence opener against Coventry City next Friday.
Keown: No new striker needed
Arsenal have already spent over £150 million this summer, notably on Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis, but the club is still seeking more firepower before the September 1 deadline. After failed moves for Morgan Rogers and Vinicius Junior, negotiations are underway for Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian international would seemingly be a welcome addition, especially with questions over Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Jesus close to joining Napoli, and Kai Havertz struggling with injuries.
However, Keown, speaking to Hayers TV, was unequivocal when asked if Arteta needs more big signings to retain the title and win the Champions League. 'No,' he said. 'I wondered whether they might look again at a striker. But they obviously feel now Havertz has come through the pre-season… I think that's really critical and he's got that base for the season, so no.'
Midfield and defence depth praised
Keown highlighted the competition in midfield and defence, noting Myles Lewis-Skelly's emergence, Martin Zubimendi's fight for a first-team place, and the presence of Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie. He also mentioned that William Saliba will not start the season, but Cristhian Mosquera has impressed in pre-season, and Marli Salmon is a promising youngster. 'So, you don't want to be blocking the pathway for these players, but only the manager will know what he wants next,' Keown added.
The former defender identified right-back as a potential weak spot, given Jurrien Timber's persistent groin problem, which forced him to withdraw from the Netherlands' World Cup squad, and Ben White's injury history. White suffered four separate injuries last season, missing 13 games, and has been linked with a move away. Keown suggested that Mosquera could cover the position, but a new right-back might be needed.
Quansah linked as solution
Reports on Friday indicated that Arsenal have begun talks to sign Jarell Quansah from Bayer Leverkusen. The England international, who can play both centre-back and right-back, joined Leverkusen from Liverpool for £30 million a year ago and is reportedly open to moving to the Emirates. Quansah played right-back during England's run to third place at the 2026 World Cup.
Keown defended the focus on defensive reinforcements, saying, 'They proved it [that they have a good defensive core] last year. You might have looked at it and thought we had too many left-backs, but in the end we used all of them and [there were] multiple changes to the back-four. I'd like to see a bit more stability.' Arsenal's transfer activity is expected to continue as the deadline approaches, with the right-back position now a clear priority.
