Arsenal legend David Seaman has warned against chasing the elusive 'next Thierry Henry' in the transfer market if Mikel Arteta wants to keep his job next season.
The former goalkeeper has instead advocated for a marque, battle-ready striker to catapult Arsenal to the Premier League title – a position the club had been anticipated to bolster both in the previous summer and January transfer windows. This signing was intended to be the final piece of Mikel Arteta's puzzle, after the team twice came close to glory, finishing as runners-up to Manchester City.
Despite these plans, no new striker joined the squad. Injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, alongside Bukayo Saka's protracted absence since a December hamstring tear, have subsequently plagued the team. Even so, January passed without a new frontman being introduced.
Presently 13 points adrift from Liverpool's leading position (albeit with a game in hand), a growing number of fans are losing hope for the season. Seaman remains adamant that Arteta must bring in a strong striker come summer and retains confidence in the manager's tenure – provided that this crucial signing is finally secured, reports Football London.
"Everybody can see at the moment the one position that is really needed is a striker," he stated on the Seaman Says podcast, sponsored by Betway. "They're all saying that there's someone lined up for the summer, but it's about now, and you might not get to that long-term project because you end up getting sacked. And then another manager comes in with new ideas.
"I don't think [Arteta] has taken us as far as he can yet, because I think that Arsenal fans will look at what we've got now, knowing that we need a striker."
The ex-England international called on his former team to go after a proven goalscorer, rather than investing in potential, similar to a young Thierry Henry when he transferred to Arsenal from Juventus in 1999 at the age of just 21.
"Get a striker in the summer, a proper, marquee one, a finished article," Seaman said. "Not a young one, like we got a young Thierry Henry or a young Nicolas Anelka back in my day. I want a finished article.
"If you can guarantee they're going to be as good as [Henry and Anelka], fair enough – but you can't. So I want a marquee signing, and then let's see what happens."
Arsenal icon Seaman's plea to his beloved club – a place he still frequents each week at the training ground – to opt for an established scorer over gambling on the 'next Henry' underlines just how critical it has become for the Gunners to clinch trophies, something that would also be crucial for Arteta's job security after a barren spell in recent years.
While Henry eventually became Arsenal's all-time leading scorer, his initial journey under Arsene Wenger was slow-paced, with the Frenchman netting just one goal in his first 12 league matches. Seaman cautioned Arteta that he won't be given the same leeway as his former coach, particularly considering the substantial funds he's spent on transfers in recent windows.
RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko and Newcastle United's Alexander Isak have both been linked with Arsenal this season, but neither would come at a low cost if pursued in the summer. Ollie Watkins was on the club's radar in January, but Aston Villa turned down their £60m bid.
It's yet to be seen whether they will make another move for the 29-year-old England international, who grew up supporting the Gunners. Ex-Arsenal boss Unai Emery would perhaps rule out a move for his star man should Arsenal return for his services in the summer anyway, given they sold Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr last month in a £64m deal.