Arsenal’s signing of a new striker could be “the catalyst” for success, says former Gunners left-back Nigel Winterburn.
Mikel Arteta’s side have finished second to Manchester City in the Premier League in each of the past two seasons and are currently second again – six points behind leaders Liverpool.
Since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left the club, they have struggled to find an outright goalscorer, with winger Bukayo Saka posing their biggest goal threat last season.
Saka is out injured and although Winterburn knows it’s not easy to sign a proven goalscorer, he believes it would make all the difference.
In conversation with 101 Great Goals about William Hill Vegas Winterburn said: “It’s always the debate with Arsenal about a centre-forward.
“My personal belief is that an all-time goalscorer would make Arsenal very, very dangerous if everyone was fit.
“If you can guarantee a striker with 25 goals in the Premier League, that would be the catalyst. We haven’t won a trophy with this new team yet.
Leandro Trossard 🤝 Kai Havertz pic.twitter.com/MIKqboI0BD
– Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 19, 2025
“With a new striker we would be very close and would scare many more teams.”
The Gunners have scored 43 goals in the Premier League this season – seven less than Liverpool and one behind Chelsea and Manchester City.
Kai Havertz is their top scorer in the league with eight goals and Aubameyang was the last man to score 20 goals in the league in 2019/20.
Winterburn said: “You could go out and buy a striker and still not win a title. We had strikers before, but the team wasn’t strong enough.
“But now the team is strong when everyone is fit. The problem this season has been injuries and the need to move players and tinker with the system. “
