'Arsenal need to replace €50m signing'

Cameron Smith

20 May 2024 15:00 BST
3 min read

Alan Shearer and Micah Richards believe Arsenal must sign a new centre forward following Gabriel Jesus’ woes during the 2023-24 season.

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The Brazil forward scored just four Premier League goals as the Gunners finished runners-up to Manchester City for the second consecutive year.

Jesus, 27, was even replaced by Kai Havertz as Mikel Arteta’s first-choice number nine during the campaign and he failed to start in any of Arsenal’s final five league games of the season.

EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal finalise Gabriel Jesus plan ahead of showdown talks

Arsenal have been heavily linked with the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko as they look to sign an upgrade on the former Man City striker - who moved to the Emirates Stadium for €52.5 million in 2022.

FootballTransfers exclusively reported that Arsenal were happy with Jesus’ contribution and would not push to sell the Brazilian, but Shearer and Richards believe the north London club need to purchase a new number nine if they have ambitions of winning the 2024-25 Premier League title.

What has been said?

Speaking on The Rest is Football Podcast (via Metro), Richards admitted: “I think they’ve [Arsenal] been outstanding.

“They need a striker. In certain moments, in big games Man City have got an array of talent that can change games. I think Arsenal have done that at times with [Leandro] Trossard.

“I think Jesus has not lived up to the expectations of what we all thought. So they need a striker and a defensive midfielder as well to play in there with Declan Rice but apart from that I think they’re all good.

“They need to buy quality rather than quantity so that they don’t disrupt the team too much. But I think they’ve had an astonishing season and are up against Man City who are top of the tree so they can be proud of themselves. Definitely an improvement from last season.”

Shearer then added: “‘I think they [Arsenal] have done really, really well and they are improving. If they can get another couple of players in, particularly a main centre-forward then they’ll go again next year.”