Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has pointed out what he sees as Mikel Arteta’s biggest mistake at Arsenal, while Alan Shearer remains baffled by the misjudgment.
Arteta has faced pressure this season as Arsenal have struggled in the Premier League title race, falling behind Liverpool in the calendar year standings.
The Gunners are set to fall short in their third consecutive title challenge and have also been eliminated from both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup.
However, Arsenal bounced back in style on Tuesday night with a record-breaking 7-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League knockout stages. This emphatic win came after a poor run of form, during which they had scored just two goals in their previous four matches.
Injuries have taken a toll on Arsenal this season, particularly in attack, and they have been punished for not signing a new striker either last summer or in the January transfer window.
When asked if Arsenal’s top priority should be securing a No. 9 in the summer, Rooney responded: “Yeah, you would think so. Not signing a striker in the summer was the biggest mistake, in my opinion. It’s always tough to bring in players in January, especially at the right price.”
He continued: “Whoever comes in as sporting director, the main focus has to be on signing a No. 9. Arteta can play with a false nine, but that position is crucial. You need someone who can score 20-30 goals a season to win titles.”
Alan Shearer also weighed in, questioning the decision-making process: “We need to know who made that call. Who decided against signing a striker in January or at the start of the season? They needed one last summer, let alone in January.”
“We don’t know the answer to that, but it’s obvious they’ve been missing a top striker. If they had one, they could have already won the league. Big strikers make the difference in big games.”
Rooney also offered advice to Mikel Merino, who has been filling in as a striker for Arsenal: “For any forward, the key is positioning yourself well and trusting your teammates to create chances.”
He added: “The Champions League, especially the knockout stages, is very different from the Premier League. Your concentration has to be at 100%.”
Leave a Reply