Despite Arsenal crashing out of the Carabao Cup without a goal scored across a two-legged semi-final against Newcastle United, Gary Neville has backed the Gunners’ decision not to buy a striker in the winter transfer market.
Mikel Arteta watched his team from the touchline in another meeting with Newcastle devoid of Arsenal goals. Like last month’s first leg, the second leg at St. James’ Park went the way of the opposition with little in the way of a reply.
In the knowledge prior kick-off they had to win by three clear goals to advance, the Gunners mustered 11 attempts on goal with only three on target. In comparison, the Magpies netted twice from their own three attempts on target, with fewer overall chances on the night.
Arteta is missing Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus to injury – the former for the foreseeable and the latter for the rest of the season – but the club decided not to invest in a striker having been linked with a number of forwards, including Alexander Isak who tormented the Gunners this evening.
Tonight Arteta suffered a fresh blow as Gabriel Martinelli was forced off in the 37th minute, replaced by 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri.
“That’s a given,” Neville said on commentary duties for Sky Sports when asked whether Arsenal will add to their attack force in the summer transfer window.
Emirates Stadium chiefs oversaw a quiet transfer deadline day on Monday, opting to save their funds for when a better opportunity arises rather than cave into the pressure of injuries and splash out this winter.
“They have to. I am a supporter of Arsenal not panicking in the January transfer window, Neville continued, adding: “They couldn’t find the player they wanted then, I get that.”
Their only move to rectify current problems became public knowledge last Wednesday prior to kick-off on a night of Champions League football. That was for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, testing the waters to see if a deal was possible.
Neville’s theory on that was: “What they’re sending [is] a message to the rest of their squad, the ones up front are not good enough.”
