Arsenal slamme over ‘crazy’ transfer decision in January
Ex-Arsenal winger Jermaine Pennant has taken aim at his former club for failing to stump up the cash require to prise Ollie Watkins away from Aston Villa.
A season-ending injury to Gabriel Jesus and สมัคร ufabet กับเรา รับโบนัสทันที Mikel Arteta’s perceive overreliance on Kai Havertz as a false No.9 role intensifie calls for a proven goalscorer to be adde to Arsenal’s squad in January.
Arteta even confirme that Arsenal would be exploring every possible avenue to strengthen up front but the deadline came and went without a single signing being made in north London.
A number of top strikers were linke with moves, including Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic and even Alvaro Morata, who would go on to join Galatasaray on loan.
With days remaining of the transfer window, though, Arsenal set their sights on Watkins, testing Villa’s resolve with an ambitious offer to land the 29-year-old England international.
Watkins, a lifelong Arsenal fan, has previously spoken of his ‘dream’ to play for the Gunners at some stage of his career and was reportedly ready to agree terms over a switch to the Emirates.
But crucially, Villa had no interest in losing one of their key men midway through the season, especially in the wake of Jhon Duran’s move to Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Nassr, and the bid was swiftly rejecte.
‘Yeah, I was a little surprise by that [Arsenal’s failure to strengthen],’ former Arsenal,. Liverpool and Stoke attacker Pennant told.
‘We’ve seen certain games where they are missing that little bit of sharpness, that little bit of cutting edge in front of goal at times.
‘I don’t think they have made their title challenge any easier by not getting a striker in.
‘They’ve still got enough ability, but I think they are now putting their hopes on Liverpool slipping up rather than Arsenal catching Liverpool.
Pennant believes Arsenal’s overreliance on Havertz for goals will ultimately prove ‘costly’ in their attempts to close the gap on Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table.
‘With a striker, there’d be a little bit more pressure on Liverpool,’ he adde.
‘We’ve seen Havertz have many chances, but not put the ball away. At some point that will prove costly.
‘We’ve seen what Ollie Watkins has done throughout his tenure at Aston Villa. He can score goals, he’s a threat behind, he can hold up the ball.’