Didi Hamann names surprise Liverpool star who would ‘transform’ Arsenal

Dietmar Hamann ‘cannot see’ Arsenal winning major trophies without a new striker and says the Gunners would be ‘transformed’ with Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez in the side.

Arsenal have suffered back-to-back defeats ahead of their crucial Premier League clash against north London rivals Tottenham on Wednesday night.

Mikel Arteta’s side were beaten by Newcastle United in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, before being knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester United.

Arsenal drew a blank against Newcastle and missed a host of chances in the clash with United, leading a number of pundits to highlight the Gunners’ need for a new striker.

Kai Havertz has been used in that role over the past two years but only scored 14 goals in 51 appearances last season and has continued to flatter to deceive this term.

Champions League winner Hamann says Arsenal ‘need a presence’ up top and believes Liverpool’s Nunez would ‘transform’ Arteta’s side.

Liverpool signed Nunez from Benfica in 2022 in a deal that could end up costing the Anfield club £85m.

Given the huge outlay, Liverpool fans have been underwhelmed by Nunez’s contributions, with the Uruguay international scoring 37 goals in 122 appearances for the Reds, and just two league goals this season.

‘When Darwin Nunez turned the game around against Newcastle last season I thought this is it now and that he had finally arrived, but that hasn’t been the case,’ ex-Liverpool midfielder Hamann told BestOffShoreSportsbook.

‘When you look at Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen, they were both natural finishers, Nunez is clearly not.

‘You can improve your finishing but not to the level of someone like Fowler or Owen who could sniff out a chance and you just knew they were going to score.

‘He scores the hard chances and misses the easy ones. I like him as a player but you have to put the ball in the net and more often than not he isn’t doing that.

‘If he was a better finisher he could be the best player in the world because at times he is unplayable and he brings others into play. Having said that, for £85m you have to say he was too expensive.’

Turning his attentions to the Gunners, Hamann added: ‘I can’t see Arsenal winning anything without a centre forward.

‘You could maybe win a cup with a bit of luck and you can win the Champions League without being the best team, but in the Premier League you need to be the best and without a centre-forward there are few teams in history to have won that way.

‘You can look at Pep Guardiola’s teams who had the best wingers in the world or teams with the likes of Neymar or Lionel Messi, but Arsenal need a presence.

‘Arsenal would be a transformed team with Darwin Nunez up front. Someone with that physical presence who can stretch teams and create space.

‘Imagine the damage that Bukayo Saka or Gabriel Martinelli could do if Nunez was stretching teams with his pace and occupying defenders. It would change the whole dynamic of the team.

‘Kai Havertz might go in behind but in one or two steps he’s already caught by the defenders, Arsenal need a quick centre forward to give them another option.

‘I think their struggles going forward are down to a lack of physical presence.’

Anfield legend Robbie Fowler recently criticised Nunez and admitted he does not see him as ‘a Liverpool player’.

‘We’re saying the same things now as we were two or three years ago,’ Fowler told ITV. ‘He’s raw, he’s this, he’s that.

‘You can’t keep saying that. For me, the more I see him the more I think he’s not a Liverpool player.

‘People might have a go at me for saying this because he works hard, you’re not signing a player because he works hard. That should be a prerequisite anyway.

‘You’ve got to come here and score goals. I know he’s a fan favourite for what he puts in, but at the time we’re talking now you’ve got to perform better and do better in that Liverpool shirt.’

Nunez has not scored a Premier League goal since November 9. The 25-year-old was suspended for Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with surprise title challengers Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night.

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