Mikel Arteta will be looking to add to his Arsenal squad this summer (Picture: Getty Images)
Arsenal legend Ian Wright reckons Mikel Arteta needs to strengthen his squad on the right-wing, at centre-back and in midfield this summer.
The Gunners have had another impressive season, but ultimately one that ends without any silverware after finishing second in the Premier League, falling at the quarter-finals of the Champions League and missing out on the domestic cups.
Wright sees little problem with Arteta’s starting XI, but feels the Spaniard needs more quality in reserve, allowing him to rotate more and to cover for injuries more adequately.
Bukayo Saka and William Saliba have been two of Arsenal’s best players this season, but Wright feels the club need better cover for them, while he would like to see another addition in central midfield during the coming transfer window.
‘Everybody talks about a centre forward, but we’ve shown that, as difficult as it’s been, we can deal with the hit of not having that out-and-out centre forward,’ Wright said on Stick to Football.
‘I think we need cover for [Bukayo] Saka, we need cover for [William] Saliba, and another midfielder probably.
‘You look at what Manchester City are capable of doing in respect of bringing players in. You have to have somebody to come in who can at some stage challenge William Saliba for his position, because we need to strengthen the whole squad – look at our bench.’
The Gunners may need to sign cover for Bukayo Saka on the right wing (Picture: Getty Images)
Jamie Carragher disagreed with Wright on what Arsenal need to do this summer, saying they need to improve their options in the starting XI rather than just add quality to the bench.
The Liverpool legend reckons the Gunners can upgrade at left-back and on the left wing to make them more of a force domestically and in Europe.
‘You need players to go in your first XI. Then the ones who are in the XI become the squad players,’ said the former Liverpool and England defender.
Leandro Trossard is currently a back-up option in the forward line for Arteta (Picture: Getty Images)
‘Arsenal, rather than saying they need cover for this player or that one, need to go and buy a left-back. I actually think left wing is also not quite good enough, even though I like Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.
‘For me, when I look at Arsenal, they’re missing a top attacker to go alongside Saka, who I think is fantastic. They need another one – it doesn’t have to be the middle guy [centre-forward], it could be an unbelievable left-winger who takes you to another level.’
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