Only a top No.9 will get us Auba the line
STRIKER A MUST FOR TITLE TILT SAYS WOODCOCK
TONY WOODCOCK believes Arsenal have no chance of winning the Premier League again until
CAPT: Helv Bd they sign a world-class striker.
But the former Gunners hitman is adamant the club were right to offload Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Barcelona.
Aubameyang scored 92 goals in 163 games for Arsenal, but that did not stop manager Mikel Arteta stripping him of the captaincy after a string of disciplinary breaches. And it was not long before the forward was shown the door on deadline day two months ago.
“They definitely need to sign a striker,” said Woodcock,
66. “It was a really difficult decision letting Aubameyang go, but no one player is bigger than the club.
“He was captain, the club’s top-earner and a proven goalscorer but
Sir Alex Ferguson would never have let that happen in his day – and the club made a big statement by letting him go. He’s 32, but was he committed to the club? I understand he had one or two problems at his previous club Borussia Dortmund.
“And then you hear he’s not turned up for training. You just can’t do that.
“But if you’re going to challenge for titles you need the best players, and a top striker.”
Woodcock was the Gunners’ top scorer for three successive seasons from 1982-85. Before that he won the European Cup with Nottingham Forest, so knows what is needed to land silverware.
“Arsenal have always been a top-four club and their fans are used to Champions League football,” said Woodcock. “But when you’re not in the Champions League it’s a lot harder to attract the top players. Unfortunately Arsenal have struggled in the last few years and don’t look like winning the Premier League.”
Arsenal last played in the Champions League in 2016-17, but have become FA Cup specialists, winning four of the past eight.
“Realistically Arsenal’s only hopes of winning anything is the FA Cup or League Cup,” said Woodcock. “But the real question for me is what do the club’s owners want? Do they want to win the Premier League? And are they going to put a structure in place to do that?
“Arsenal fans were treated to success under Arsene Wenger, but I’m not really sure the right succession plans were put in place before he left.
“You have to build for the future to achieve success.”
There is no doubting the Gunners have a string of top young players, including Emile Smith Rowe, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
And with experience in Alexandre Lacazette, Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka, they have strength throughout their squad.
Woodcock, below, added: “It would be fantastic to see Arsenal win the league again. The club need a strong structure and concept.”