Michael Owen Says Arsenal Seeks Striker Upgrade Despite Title Win

Michael Owen has expressed that Arsenal is not fully satisfied with Viktor Gyokeres' performance and is exploring options to strengthen their attacking line, even after securing their first Premier League title in 22 years. Owen indicated that manager Mikel Arteta is aiming for a more clinical striker to lead the team next season.

Gyokeres joined Arsenal last summer in a £64 million transfer from Sporting CP and has scored 21 goals in 54 appearances. While this reflects a successful adaptation to English football, Owen highlighted that the Swedish forward has faced criticism concerning his technical abilities and impact in crucial matches. Owen suggested that Gyokeres might serve as a short-term solution rather than a permanent fixture in the squad.

Speaking to Premier League Productions, Owen stated, "They’ve won it playing like this at the moment; that’s not to say they’re going to be like this forever. Arsenal would love to find another centre-forward – they’re not happy with Gyokeres really. They’re not happy with a couple of positions."

Owen emphasized the high standards Arsenal maintains for their strikers, referencing the legacy of club legends. He noted that if a top-tier striker becomes available, Arteta and the recruitment team would act decisively, potentially relegating Gyokeres to a substitute role or transferring him. Owen remarked, "If someone comes available that’s top, if a Thierry Henry becomes available again, they’d move heaven and earth to get somebody like that in."

Despite acknowledging Arsenal's current success, Owen warned about the risks associated with altering a winning formula. He compared the situation to Liverpool's experience, cautioning against excessive spending that might destabilize the team. Owen explained, "They’ve got to be careful, like Liverpool, spending £400 million over a summer trying to be even better again, and they ruin what they’ve got. That’s the risk, that’s the management, that’s the next stage."

Looking ahead, Owen is optimistic about Arsenal's prospects of sustaining their dominance in the Premier League. He pointed out the challenges faced by traditional rivals such as Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United, suggesting that Arsenal's consistency could secure them continued success. Owen commented, "You can see them repeating what they’ve just done. This is a very, very strong, solid, efficient team that you can see they’re going to do it again."

He further observed the instability among competing clubs, stating, "Liverpool are in turmoil, Chelsea are in turmoil; they’re playing really poorly. Manchester United are upwardly mobile at the moment, but they’ve still got a lot of surgeries, a couple of big players going, and European football to contend with; it might be a year too early. A lot of the top teams are struggling at the moment. There is an opportunity for Arsenal if they keep that consistency, which I can’t see any reason why they wouldn’t. It could be theirs for the immediate future."