Paul Merson urges Arsenal to sign Lukaku despite his struggles at Chelsea

Paul Merson has urged Arsenal to sign Romelu Lukaku after missing out on the Premier League title.

Despite topping the league for most of the season and sitting eight points clear at the start of April, the Gunners handed Man City the title on Saturday after losing 1-0 to Nottingham Forest.

Mikel Arteta's side have won just twice in their last eight games, as their lack of depth has been exposed by injuries and a crowded schedule.

For Merson, who won the league twice with Arsenal, part of the problem was a lack of goals up front.

‘Arsenal's squad is bare,' he told GiveMeSport. 'It wasn’t strong enough to win the league. They need to buy players. Top quality players. Manchester City are head and shoulders above everybody. So you need to get stronger just to compete.

‘Arsenal need a centre forward. They need someone who is going to get them 25 goals a season.

‘I’m not having a go at Gabriel Jesus. He’s a very good player and he’s been a brilliant signing. But he’s not going to get you the goals you need on his own.'

Jesus has scored 10 goals in 25 league games for Arsenal since joining over the summer, but missed a chunk of the season after picking up a knee injury at the World Cup.

In terms of who could be added to the squad, Merson said: ‘Romelu Lukaku might be available. The 30-year-old is an out-and-out centre-forward. He will stay up front and back into players. That might help Arsenal.’

The Belgian striker is currently on loan an Inter Milan but is due back at Chelsea this summer.

He is due back at Stamford Bridge this summer and is believed to be in talks with incoming Blues manager Mauricio Pochettino, but it is not clear if the striker will remain a Chelsea player in an already-bloated squad.

Lukaku has an excellent goal scoring record in England and Italy but had a public falling out with former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, something which may put Arteta off given his own tiff with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Merson also pointed to Ivan Toney as a potential alternative after the Brentford man scored 20 goals this season, but admitted the move 'won't happen' following Toney's eight-month ban for breaking betting rules.

Having already confirmed a second-place finish, Arsenal will face Wolves in their final game of the season on Sunday.