Arsenal will not sign a second striker this summer if Eddie Nketiah does put pen to paper on a new contract, according to The Athletic‘s James McNicholas.
The journalist claims that, despite offering the forward £100,000 a week, the Gunners will still be saving money that could be put towards bringing in just one striker instead:
Not surprised if Eddie stays. Even on steep salary (a consequence of the fact he was effectively going on a Bosman), the deal is substantially cheaper than total cost of signing a new 2nd striker.
Resource will be focused instead on the new CF signing.https://t.co/FDqAnYaZyQ
— gunnerblog (@gunnerblog) May 26, 2022
While a few fans on Twitter understand McNicholas’s argument, many others are not convinced by the club’s summer recruitment plans:
😂😂😂 we’ve been mugged off. And he will be unsellable because of those wages! Poor decision.
— Grant (@GRich91) May 26, 2022
Signing Jesus gives you statistically the best pressing forward in the league, but don’t think it solves the goal scoring problem, still think we need a purpose made CF
— Paul (@aerzenspider) May 26, 2022
Just worried if having Gabriel Jesus and Nketiah as CF1 and CF2 if it’s enough.
— Ndi Mapipi (@philanitheNDAU) May 26, 2022
Disappointed to Our Board, Edu and Arteta!🥴
— Roselily (@Roselil1296) May 26, 2022
I think Eddie and Jesus won’t be enough I think. Would be a bit underwhelming
— Bernard Appiah Darkwa (@itsbad93) May 26, 2022
Already underwhelmed
— Alan (@King_of_Anglia) May 26, 2022
We need 2 even if Eddie stays, we've lost Auba, Laca and Pepe is leaving… surely this is not an either or scenario?
— Sam (@francis_samj) May 26, 2022
This club will never fail to disappoint us.
— Hasan (@Arrsenal1) May 26, 2022
If we put the debate about Nketiah’s ability to one side for a moment, you have to remember that Arsenal sold Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in January and are expected to lose Alexandre Lacazette in the coming weeks.
There is no way Arsenal will be strengthening the squad if they choose to bring in just one out-and-out striker. Unless they plan on signing in a couple of wide forwards as well, the club’s frontline will be weaker than it was last year.
