A round-up of the latest Arsenal news as Jack Wilshere slams Jamie Carragher for what he has said about Arsene Wenger and Cesc Fabregas marks a transfer need.
Cesc Fabregas feels Arsenal would be ‘much closer’ to the title with a real No9
Arsenal icon Cesc Fabregas feels Mikel Arteta would be ‘much closer’ to winning the Premier League title with an actual No9. The Spaniard admires what Kai Havertz offered as a centre-forward this season. But he believes Arsenal need a striker who can score 30 goals a season.
Arteta trusted Havertz with leading Arsenal’s attack in the run-in after losing faith in Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah. He started Havertz as a striker in 12 of Arsenal’s final 16 games for eight goals and six assists. Arteta turned to the midfielder after Jesus’ third lay-off for injury.
Jesus also only scored four and assisted five goals in 27 outings all season. Nketiah also only hit home five times and created two goals in 27 games. Arteta further did not field Nketiah in any of Arsenal’s final six games as the 24-year-old last found the back of a net in October.
So, while Fabregas admires Havertz, he believes Arteta and Arsenal would be a lot closer to the Premier League title with a true striker. Bukayo Saka (16), Leandro Trossard (12), Martin Odegaard (8), Declan Rice (7) and Gabriel Martinelli (6) even outscored Jesus and Nketiah.
Fabregas told the BBC’s Planet Premier League podcast: “In my opinion and he’s done really, really well but obviously it’s not his main position, Havertz, he’s had a fantastic season.
“But if Arsenal can manage to get a top, top striker that can guarantee you 30 goals a season, then they will be much, much, much closer to getting it.”
Read more about what Fabregas has had to say about Arsenal in the title race, here.
Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker ‘agree’ that Declan Rice was not the signing of the season
Alan Sherer and Gary Lineker ‘agree’ that Chelsea’s move for Cole Palmer was the signing of the season over Declan Rice to Arsenal. The pair are two of the Premier League’s nominees for its Player of the Season award which is be given out on public votes and an expert panel.
Rice is one of two Arsenal players who made the shortlist with captain Martin Odegaard. But Shearer and Lineker feel Palmer, who is the one Chelsea representative, is more deserving of recognition. Even though Shearer believes both players have been ‘outstanding’ this season.
The Premier League nominated Rice after helping Arsenal fight Manchester City for the title in his first season in N5. Mikel Arteta paid West Ham a club-record fee for the 25-year-old in the off-season. He repaid their investment with seven goals and nine assists in 38 games.
Palmer also joined Chelsea from Manchester City last summer and proved to be a vital part of Mauricio Pochettino’s plans. The 22-year-old winger scored 22 and assisted 11 goals over 34 fixtures. Now, Shearer and Lineker agree that Palmer was the true signing of the season.
Lineker replied to Shearer on The Rest Is Football: “Those are the two I came down to. But I’m going to go with Palmer because Rice was £105m.
“So, to say signing of the season, you expect to get something a bit special out of £105m, and they have got something special. But Palmer, £42.5m, has been so staggeringly good.”
Shearer added: “I agree with you. I’m going to say Palmer, as well.”
Read more about what Shearer and Lineker have said about Rice and Palmer, here.
Jamie Carragher is told ‘don’t be so biased’ about Jurgen Klopp and Arsene Wenger
Arsenal cult hero Jack Wilshere has told Jamie Carragher not to be ‘so biased’ after saying Jurgen Klopp has a better Premier League legacy than Arsene Wenger. The Liverpool legend has claimed he rates what the German achieved at Anfield over what Wenger did at Arsenal.
Klopp oversaw his last Premier League fixture in charge of Liverpool last Sunday in his 334th match in charge. The German also bowed out with his 209th win, having drawn 78 and lost 47 with 714 goals scored to 331 conceded. He also guided Liverpool to the title in 2019/20.
Wenger, on the other hand, won 476 and drew 199 of his 828 league games at Arsenal with 1,561 goals scored to 807 conceded. The Gunners even won three titles, including the only golden crown with the Invincibles. Wenger also transformed training and playing standards.
So, for Carragher to suggest that Klopp had a greater legacy at Liverpool than what Wenger did with Arsenal from 1996 to 2018, Wilshere felt obliged to call out his ‘bias’. The Gunners’ U18 boss is adamant that Carragher is ‘miles off it’ and should not forget what Wenger did.
“Unbelievable how [Klopp] transformed Liverpool but Arsene’s legacy in the Premier League is second to none,” Wilshere posted on X. “Sorry Jamie but you are miles off it.
“Please don’t be so biased and respect Arsene and what he did over a longer period, including leading the only team in the Premier League to be invincible.
“Everyone appreciates what Pep [Guardiola] has done and changed the way we see football in this country. But don’t forget AW had a similar effect when he came in 96! You know that era better than me and witnessed it, so let’s not forget that!”
Read more about what Wilshere has said about Carragher rating Klopp over Wenger, here.