Mikel Arteta sent Arsenal warning after Ezri Konsa and Bruno Guimaraes transfers
Mikel Arteta(Image: (David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images))
Mikel Arteta has been warned the signings of Ezri Konsa and Bruno Guimaraes might not be enough for Arsenal to retain the Premier League title this season. Arteta was desperate to add defensive reinforcements during the summer transfer window and swooped to sign England international Konsa from Aston Villa in a deal worth £51m.
The Gunners identified the centre-back as their number one target after securing Guimaraes from Newcastle United in a £75m transfer. Arteta’s side have already laid down a marker with maximum points from their opening three games of the season, but former Gunner Alan Smith believes Arsenal's lack of firepower compared to Manchester City could cost them in the title race.
He said: "Obviously, Konsa is a brilliant signing because he can play right back, centre-back, but I think the way they're set up, they're always going to be hard to beat, hard to score against.
“So from that point of view, I'm not sure it makes them stronger title favourites because it's going forward where you think they haven't got as much as City, certainly, to break down sides.
“Bruno changes the dynamics of the midfield. I think he's somebody who will score goals for you. Declan Rice, as good as he is, hasn't got many in the last couple of years.
“So again, big character, fans will love him. He's a leader as well. So that's going to pep up Arsenal's midfield.
“I think it'll certainly help them in that title challenge. As I said, he can chip in with goals, which at times I think Arsenal are going to need."
But despite securing the services of Guimaraes, Konsa, Piero Hincapie, Illan Meslier and Christos Tzolis, the Gunners missed out on Julian Alvarez.
Arsenal wanted to sign Julian Alvarez during the summer(Image: Photo By Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images)
After a summer-long transfer saga, Alvarez has remained at Atletico Madrid after he tried to force through a move to Barcelona and rejected the chance to move to the Emirates Stadium.
And Smith, who scored 115 goals in 347 total appearances for the Gunners, believes there will be a huge sense of disappointment at the club that the Argentine never joined.
"They clearly wanted him, and they clearly felt they needed a centre forward, and I think they do,” he said, via BestBettingSites.co.uk.
“But to get a player good enough to fit into that Arsenal team, it's no good getting a mediocre seven out of ten player. They need top quality, so it's not easy. And Arsenal aren't going to make a panic buy if they can't get who they want.
“They're well organised; they'll be looking at January now. But yeah, they'll be a little bit disappointed they couldn't get that number nine in."
Arsenal face Napoli in their opening Champions League fixture on September 9. Fans can watch the game live on TNT Sports via HBO Max or Prime Video's TNT Sports channel.
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