Arsenal transfer chief Edu may have missed a golden opportunity to bolster his side’s chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League. The Gunners splashed the cash last summer on six shiny new signings, but the fact that none were strikers could come back to haunt them.
Even without extra attacking options, Mikel Arteta has still put together an impressive top-four bid as his side venture further into the business end of the campaign. Last time out a narrow victory over Aston Villa was enough preserve their three-point buffer in fourth spot, while they still boast a game in hand on the chasing pack.
Fans were left concerned about their firepower when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was offloaded in January after a dispute with Arteta. Their recent run of form is therefore even more impressive, given that Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are the only out-and-out strikers remaining.
The Gunners’ squad could have looked different if they had pulled the trigger on a move last summer. According to multiple sources including The Athletic, Tammy Abraham had admirers in north London while he was being frozen out of a competitive Chelsea side.
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Arsenal may have another swipe at landing Abraham when the transfer window swings back open in a few weeks’ time. Edu and co are sure to go after at least one starting-quality striker with Lacazette and Nketiah both soon to be out of contract and at liberty to leave for free.
Chelsea could yet throw a spanner in the works, however, as they have the luxury of a £68million buy-back clause. If the Blues decide to cut their losses on a faltering Romelu Lukaku, they could have a big say on Abraham’s prospective return to the Premier League.
