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Arsenal won 1-0 against Hull on Saturday afternoon, but it’s hard to come away from that game exhilarated by the Gunners’ display.
It was a game in which Arsenal struggled to get going, the win came via a scrappy Martin Odegaard goal, and beyond that, there weren’t many clear cut chances created.
Questions have to be asked about Arsenal’s attack after this game – struggling to score at home against a newly promoted side is hardly the hallmark of champions.
Speaking on NBC after the game, Gary Neville gave his verdict on Arsenal’s performance, and he made it clear that he wasn’t too impressed by the Gunners’ attack.
TalkingPoints
Arsenal have edged past Hull 1-0! What did you make of that? 🤔
Neville dissected Arsenal’s showing against Hull.
The pundit said that he does expect Arsenal to win the league, but they need to find another gear in the attack if they are to become European champions.
Neville was asked specifically about Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz, and he didn’t mince his words when talking about the pair.
“I would like to see them get a second. I think to reach that next level and become a Champions League-winning team, they’re going to need to add two or three players in attack at some point.
“They’ll get through the Premier League. I think they’ll win it this season. But when it comes to being a really top team in the biggest moments, I think they’ll just fall a little bit short.
“So, for you, Havertz and Gyokeres are just not enough?” Neville was asked.
“Not enough. If they were my second and third strikers, and I had a world-class centre-forward in front of them, I’d think that’s a great front three capable of handling both the Champions League and the Premier League.
“But they need that world-class striker up front, and maybe a player off the left as well.”
Of course, many of Gary Neville’s successful Manchester United teams were built around having numerous quality strikers.
United’s treble-winning side had Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole as the starting pair with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Teddy Sheringham playing the secondary roles to perfection.
Even in his latter days at United, the rotating cast of Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov, Danny Welbeck, Javier Hernandez and, at one point, Carlos Tevez were a remarkable list of attacking talents.
Neville says Arsenal should get an elite striker to start ahead of Havertz and Gyokeres, and it is hard to disagree with that point of view.