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Arsenal duo Edu and Mikel Arteta may have to rethink plans after Ian Wright comments
Ian Wright has seemingly given Edu and Mikel Arteta advice over their summer transfer plans at Arsenal.
Arsenal may have to change their transfer plans following comments made by club legend Ian Wright. Sporting director Edu and manager Mikel Arteta now may have to sign a striker who can compete with Gabriel Jesus.
Jesus has been the first-choice striker at Arsenal ever since joining from Manchester City last summer. Eddie Nketiah is the second in line and featured heavily during the Brazilian's injury absence.
Folarin Balogun has impressed while on loan at Reims this season. However, Arsenal could choose to cash in on the academy graduate who is keen to remain a first-choice striker somewhere.
That opportunity would unlikely be available to him at Arsenal in the immediate future due to his lack of experience in senior English football. Arsenal would likely sign a striker to bolster their resources if Balogun were to leave.
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The likelihood is that Edu and Arteta would target a younger forward who can be behind both Jesus and Nketiah in the pecking order. However, Wright's comments suggest that may be the wrong approach.
The former striker was critical of Jesus' positioning during the 4-1 drubbing by title rivals City on Wednesday. He claims Arsenal miss an out-and-out centre-forward who has the know-how to arrive in the 18-yard area at the right time.
Wright says Jesus' movement played a part in Arsenal's failure to trouble the reigning champions. He said on Match of the Day: "What it was, it was the only way you were going to get something off them [City].
"You look where Jesus is [out on the left] and this is the only way Arsenal are going to get any sort of half chance. They did finally break through at one stage and then you look at that [no Arsenal players in the City box].
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"That is where you want your striker because you are not going to get too many opportunities where are you going to be able to break into City and do that. That was five minutes in, you have to take it to put them on the back foot."
Wright's comments could prick up the ears of Edu and Arteta. Jesus has scored nine goals in 19 starts this season, which isn't the worst return.
But after years of playing across the front line at City, perhaps he cannot be relied upon as being the main No 9. Signing a striker who can compete and even displace Jesus may now be on Arsenal's mind.
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