Signing a striker will not solve Arsenal's problems and the Gunners must look instead to improve their creativity prior to the following season, Jamie Carragher believes.
Arsenal's Premier League title Hoses are almost after following a return of two points – and one goal – of matches against West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United.
They are now 15 points on drift from leaders Liverpool with only one game in hand, and Arne Slot's Reds only need 16 points from their last nine games to win the title.
The side of Mikel Arteta was heavily criticized because they did not acquire a striker in the transfer window of January, when they failed with a large money movement for Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa.
But in his role as an expert for Sky Sports on Monday, Carragher insisted that their problems are elsewhere.
“The problem they have is not a problem problem,” said Carragher. “It's a creation problem.
“They don't create enough opportunities. That's the biggest problem they have now.”
No Arsenal player has reached double digits for goals in the Premier League this campaign. Kai Havertz has nine but has sustained a seasonal injury, while Gabriel Martinelli is their second most productive player with six goals.
However, Carragher does not believe that the addition of an elite number nine would automatically improve the side of Arteta.
He said: “I keep going back to people who say they need a number nine. If Arsenal had a number nine – let's say Erling Haaland – would they have scored more goals?
“Of course they would do that, because he is a top striker and a great finisher, but based on those three games, the best chances they had, Haaland makes no difference. He doesn't do that.”
The underlying attacking figures of Arsenal support the theory of Carragher. Their total expected goals (XG) figure of 45 for the season ranks them sixth in the Premier League, Tottenham (47.15) placed behind the 13th) and only marginal for Crystal Palace (44.89).
The Gunners have surpassed their XG figures and chose 52 times, while their shot conversion rate of 13.33% only marginal on their figure of 13.85% compared to last season – when they scored 91 goals.
But they are on average only 1.21 expected assists (XA) per league match this season, a noticeable drop-off from their 2023-24 average of 1.52.
Captain Martin Odegaard, who has only two goals and three assists this period, has arrived for criticism of the creative department, and Carragher believes that he needs more support.
“Forget to get a number nine, the first thing they might have to do is sign creative players,” said Carragher.
“It looks like they are going to buy [Martin] Zubimendi in the summer and maybe replaced [Thomas] PEELY in the position of midfield. You get a different profile of the player.
“That first step to actually be more creative next season will help them to be a bit more competitive in the Premier League.”
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