Former Premier League striker Alan Shearer has said that the Gunners are in panic mode in their search for a striker.
Arsenal have seen a £60m bid rejected for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins this week, as they aim to land a striker before the Monday transfer deadline.
The Gunners will be without striker Gabriel Jesus for the rest of the season as he is dealing with an ACL injury that he suffered earlier in the month.
Mikel Arteta‘s side currently sit second in the Premier League, nine points off league leaders Liverpool. The Gunners face a game against Manchester City on Sunday afternoon to try and close the gap.
Shearer has said that after they made a late bid for Watkins, he thinks that they are panicking in their pursuit of a striker. Speaking to Betfair, he said: “From an Arsenal point of view it was pretty naughty the timing of it, on the afternoon of a Champions League game, when you consider they’ve had all month they put the bid in and they’ve known what they’re missing for seven or eight months. It’s not as if they’ve just realized what they’re missing.
“It doesn’t take an idiot to work out what they need and now Arsenal have hit the panic button. I don’t know why it’s taken them so long to realize that they need a centre forward, so many people have talked about it for such a long time.
“Watkins is the sort of player that would make the difference for them, in him you’re getting someone who’s ready-made, but Villa are not going to sell him.”
Arsenal receive major blow in race to sign Ollie Watkins
Aston Villa have sold striker Jhon Duran to Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr this month as he was competing with Watkins for first team football.
It would be highly unlikely that Villa would sell both Watkins and Duran this window, especially considering that Watkins would leave to a rival in the form of Arsenal.
However, reports suggest that they are close to landing Manchester United attacker Marcus Rashford, and so could sell Watkins if they sign the United man.