Jose Mourinho gives Mikel Arteta Premier League title sign as Arsenal transfer priority clear

Arsenal's decision not to sign a striker in the summer has been questioned as comparisons to Jose Mourinho's Chelsea team are made

Arsenal were heavily linked with signing a top quality striker in the summer transfer window but a move failed to materialise.

football.london understands Edu and Mikel Arteta were keen on adding to the Gunners' forward line, with the club linked to the likes of Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak. In the end a No.9 was not signed and Raheem Sterling joined on loan from Chelsea on deadline day.

Kai Havertz has played up top for Arteta's side for the most part of the campaign and has impressed, scoring six goals in 10 appearances. There are doubts over whether he can be the main man and do it on a consistent basis, however. Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey believes the Gunners need to sign a striker who can score 20-plus goals in a season in order to win the Premier League.

Speaking to 10bet Heskey said: "I think in most seasons, if you’re going to win the Premier League title, you need to have a striker that can score 20+ goals. Of course, there have been teams that have won it without a deadly 20+ goals striker, but most of the time, the Premier League title winner has a killer in the number nine position.

"Arsenal have got players that can chip in with goals. They have players that can score from the wide attacking areas and Havertz is capable of scoring 10 to 15 goals in a season. Are they missing that striker who can win them the league? I think they are.

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"With all due respect to the players at Arsenal, I don't see any of them scoring 20+ goals. Martinelli, I like him a lot because he's a threat, but he's not going to get you more than 15. The only player who could potentially get you more than 20 goals is Bukayo Saka, but that’s a tall order from your right winger.

"Havertz has come on leaps and bounds at Arsenal. I think he’s capable of getting 20 goal involvements (combined assists and goals) but they are missing the final ingredient at the top end of the pitch."

While Heskey was dubious of Arsenal's attacking players, the former frontman praised the Gunners' defensive record and even compared it to that of Jose Mourinho's title-winning Chelsea side in the 2004/05 season. "That being said, Arsenal have arguably got the best defence in the Premier League," Heskey said.

"That could be more important for their title aspirations than their attack. Mourinho’s Chelsea teams that won back-to-back titles, they didn’t score bucket loads of goals, but they did have a formidable defence, perhaps Arsenal can follow in their footsteps and win a title by being the tightest team at the back."

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