Liverpool legend Steve Nicol has urged Mikel Arteta to ‘shut up’ about Arsenal’s apparent need for squad additions and instead convey a more ‘positive’ message over the club’s Premier League title hopes.
David Raya’s permanent move from Brentford to the Emirates remains Arsenal’s only piece of business of the summer with just over a month to go until the transfer deadline.
The Gunners are closing in on a deal for Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori, though, and the north London giants are working behind the scenes to get more bodies through the door, with centre-forward deemed to be a priority.
It comes after Arsenal took Manchester City to the final day of the season last term but ultimately came up short in their pursuit of a first Premier League title in two decades.
Speaking to media upon his squad’s arrival in the United States for Arsenal’s pre-season tour, Arteta stressed that there were several positions that still needed ‘improving’ before the start of the 2024/25 campaign.
‘Perfection in this league requires different standards. To relate that word to winning the Premier League then that’s what we have to do,’ the Arsenal head coach told reporters.
‘We know there are certain positions that we want to improve and give the squad better resources, especially in terms of numbers where we are very short.
‘We are so close. There are moments where we had really fine margins. We have earned to be there, and obviously we want much more and we are going to try to get it.’
While many Arsenal supporters agreed with Arteta’s comments, former Liverpool defender Nicol was taken aback and insisted the Spaniard’s messaging was all wrong ahead of the new season.
‘I don’t want to listen to Arsenal and Arteta talking about what we need to do, “We need to improve positions and we need a bigger squad”… I don’t want to hear that at this time of the year!’ Nicol said on ESPN FC.
‘I want to hear some positives, “We’re going to win the title! We think we’ve got enough to win the title, we just have to get better, we have to take advantage whenever we get ourselves [in a good position]”.’
Nicol added: ‘I don’t want to listen to, “We need more cover in more positions”… shut up, please!
‘How’s about you go, “You know what? I think we can do it this year! We’ve got the ability and the players to win this”, that’s what I want to hear. I don’t want to hear excuses.
‘Once you start playing the games there will be plenty of time to make excuses. I don’t want to hear it before a ball is kicked. Come on!’
Ex-Arsenal midfielder Stewart Robson, meanwhile, encouraged his former club to pursue a move for Brentford and England centre-forward Ivan Toney.
Asked whether Arsenal require a new striker, Robson replied: ‘They do. Absolutely they need a striker. They are a good side but they need something else.
‘You can’t keep saying, “We want a centre-forward who can play out wide”… [Gabriel] Jesus can do that and he didn’t do it well enough over the period of a couple of years. Havertz is a centre-forward but also plays in midfield.
‘You’ve got to have players that can play in different positions, you’ve got to have that rotation. [Riccardo] Calafiori can play at left-back and he can play at centre-half, Ben White can do the same, so he’s getting players that can play in several different positions.
‘But at times, Arsenal need an out-and-out centre-forward, someone who is going to lead the line. When they’re dominating games, can’t score and getting crosses in the box… someone who is going to head the ball in the back of the net and that could be Ivan Toney I think.’
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