for the injured Olivier Giroud if they want
to win the Premier League title, says Gary
Neville.
The France striker has been ruled out for up to
four months after breaking his leg against Everton
but Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has suggested
he hasn't got any plans to sign a replacement
before the transfer window closes on September 1.
Whilst Arsenal have already recruited £35m
attacker Alexis Sanchez this summer, Sky Sports
pundit Neville says the North London outfit need
more firepower if they are to compete with the
strong squads at title favourites Chelsea and Man
City.
"We thought even before
Giroud got injured that
Arsene Wenger would want
to sign a top centre forward,"
Neville told skysports.com.
"If we're judging them on
getting third or fourth place,
then Arsenal might not have
a problem. But if we're
judging them in terms of
targeting a title, which I think
is where Arsene Wenger and
the Arsenal fans are at, then
they're going to have to sign
a centre forward – and
probably a central midfield
player as well.
"We're imagining Alexis as
someone who is going to be
played as a wide forward but
he can play as a centre
forward; he is tough and durable. But you think
they are going to need somebody, unless he's
going to put faith in Yaya Sanogo or Joel
Campbell.
"You have to say it's potentially something that
could cause them problems – and if you're
measuring them against Man City with Sergio
Aguero, Alvaro Negredo, Edin Dzeko and Stevan
Jovetic, Arsenal start to look very light."
Depth
Neville says all top-flight
clubs are struggling with a
World Cup hangover, as
players involved in the Brazil
showpiece are yet to return to
peak fitness.
However, he reckons the
strength in depth at Chelsea
and Man City has already
been demonstrated this
season and any side hoping
to challenge the pair could
find their title tilt derailed by
injuries.
"You look at Chelsea and
Man City's squad and it's not
just the strength and
physicality of the actual
players, it's the strength in
depth and the way they cope
with injuries," said Neville.
"You look at the Man City team, which doesn't
have Aguero, Fernandinho or Negredo starting
and they still look like a team that could go and
beat anybody else in the league.
"Take the top two or three players out of the
Arsenal, Man United or Liverpool team and
there's a definite drop in quality, which you don't
see at City and Chelsea. That's the sign of a great
squad that's able to cope with the demands of the
season."
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.