Arsenal should sign a proven Premier League striker like Chris Wood this summer to solve their goalscoring issues.
That’s the view of talkSPORT’s Darren Ambrose, who believes a big-money signing from elsewhere could be a gamble for the Gunners.
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After three consecutive second-place league finishes, it’s no secret that Arsenal are in need of making a statement striker signing.
Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres has been a long-term target, with Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig another option they’re keen on.
However, they could be priced at around £65million and even £90m respectively, so Saunders has hinted they should look closer to home.
Wood scored 20 Premier League goals for Nottingham Forest in the 2024/25 season and is the suggested profile for Arsenal this summer.
“If you put Chris Wood in the Arsenal side, he gets over 20 goals,” Ambrose told Rory Jennings on Kick Off for talkSPORT.
Jennings disagreed, but Ambrose insisted: “He does. Look at the goals he’s scoring now…
“He’s an out and out goalscorer. If you put [Jean-Philippe] Mateta in there, he probably gets 15 to 20 goals.”
Although Jennings agreed with Saunders’ other suggestion of Crystal Palace star Mateta, they still couldn’t see eye to eye on Woods.
Ambrose added: “The reaction you’ve given me there, it’s frowned upon, and that’s what Arsenal fans would do.
“They’d laugh, they’d go, ‘Can’t have Chris Wood.’ Why? The guy’s just scored 20 plus goals at Nottingham Forest.”
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“We’re talking about goalscorers,” Ambrose later continued.
“What are we looking for if you’re Arsenal? Are we looking for just a superstar that you go and pay £100million for? This is why…
“My argument for Chris Wood and Mateta is an argument that would get ridiculed by certain supporters.
“But Chris Wood has scored 34 Premier League goals in the last two seasons, that’s a proven Premier League goalscorer, so why is that frowned upon? If you put him in front of goal, he’s going to score.
“Yes he’s 33, yes there’s no sell-on value, and I’m not advocating they go and sign Chris Wood, but what are you looking for?
“Are you looking for a Darwin Nunez, a [Rasmus] Hojlund that is a gamble at £70-80m, then come and fail?
Chris Wood vs Arsenal 24/25 Premier League goalscorers
Nottingham Forest:
Arsenal:
- Kai Havertz – 9
- Gabriel Martinelli – 8
- Leandro Trossard – 8
- Mikel Merino – 7
- Bukayo Saka – 6
- Ethan Nwaneri – 4
- Thomas Partey – 4
- Declan Rice – 4
- Gabriel Jesus – 3
- Gabriel – 3
- Martin Odegaard – 3
- Riccardo Calafiori – 2
- William Saliba – 2
- Jakub Kiwior – 1
- Myles Lewis-Skelly – 1
- Kieran Tierney – 1
- Jurrien Timber – 1
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“Or are you looking for a proven Premier League [striker]? Not Isak because I think Isak will be £120m plus.”
Wood netted more than double the goals than Arsenal’s top scorer in the league, who was Kai Havertz on nine.
Only Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard came closest with eight goals each.
In comparison, Bukayo Saka scored 16 whilst Havertz and Trossard netted 13 and 12 respectively in their 2023/24 league campaign.
Although their efforts were still not enough to secure the Premier League title, they still pushed Manchester City until the final day.
Liverpool on the other hand finished ten points clear of the Gunners to take the crown with four games to spare.
