Cesc Fabregas believes that his former club, Arsenal, needs to invest in a top-class striker this summer to surpass Manchester City and win the Premier League title.
For the second consecutive year, the Gunners narrowly missed ending their 20-year title drought, with Pep Guardiola’s side winning eight consecutive games to secure their fourth straight championship.
- First Liverpool player decides he wants to leave club after Arne Slot announcement
- REVEALED: Premier League’s Worst XI of the 2023/24 season
- De Bruyne named who he would prefer to play with between Ronaldo & Messi
Arsenal challenged without a dedicated goalscorer, with eight players outscoring their top scorer, Bukayo Saka, who netted 16 goals.
In contrast, City’s Erling Haaland won his second consecutive Golden Boot with 27 goals, and Phil Foden (19 goals) also outscored any Arsenal player.
Arsenal spent the second half of the season with Kai Havertz as a false nine, while more traditional strikers Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah managed only four and five goals, respectively.
Fabregas insists that Arsenal must address this issue over the summer by acquiring a proven goalscorer and also suggests that the team needs more depth.
Asked on BBC Sounds’ Planet Premier League podcast if Arteta needs more signings, Fabregas said: ‘I think it’s funny because the other day you are watching both games at the same time and when you think about it you say, “Wow, Man City really have like two teams basically that could win the Premier League”.
‘Arsenal don’t in this regard, so for me it’s a bit of everything.
‘Yes, they do need a bit of depth to keep pushing, pushing, pushing during the season and not rely always on Saka or [Declan] Rice or [Thomas] Partey if he’s injured or not or on [William] Saliba.
‘But also, 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 [the title].’
On whether it was good to see Arsenal look so devastated to only finish second, Fabregas added: ‘One hundred per cent, because that means they know the level that they are reaching is higher and higher and they want more and more.
‘Definitely this is what Arteta was looking for since he arrived, that they can be competing at the highest level, and they are doing it now. It wasn’t enough, because they are competing against a really good side, but they are showing signs better than last year, better than two years ago, so that means they are growing.
‘They are a very young side as well with a coach that, for me, is creating a monster. If Pep decides to leave next year, and Mikel continues at Arsenal the way they are going and signing intelligently and growing with the young players, I believe Arsenal can be the next top team in England.’
