Arsenal transfers: Thierry Henry criticises Mikel Arteta over striker signing, announcing the Gunners boss ‘had time to get a No 9’

Thierry Henry has criticised Mikel Arteta over his failure to signal an out-and-out frontman, insisting the Arsenal supervisor has “had time to get a nine”.

The north London membership completed 2d in the back of Premier League champions Liverpool this season and failed so as to add to the only trophy – the 2020 FA Cup – received by means of Arteta right through his five-and-a-half-year reign so far.

While acknowledging that health issues had performed a component, the Gunners’ document goalscorer highlighted the loss of a No 9 as a key factor.

Henry instructed the Overlap Stick to Football podcast: “When you look at the injuries and you look at the players that came, he brought players. He got [Raheem] Sterling when everyone wanted a nine. He had time to get a nine.

“I’m now not the trainer, I do not understand how the dialogue (went)… everybody has been screaming for a 9 – with the exception of after we win, by means of the best way. When we beat Real Madrid, we did not desire a 9.”

Arsenal had been connected time and again with Newcastle’s Alexander Isak – the Magpies’ Champions League qualification is more likely to make that much more tricky – and likewise Sporting frontman Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

However, Henry – a 1998 World Cup winner with France – believes Atletico Madrid’s former Manchester City ahead Julian Alvarez may well be the solution to their issues.

He stated: “One of my favourite nines out there at the minute is Julian Alvarez. We’ve been talking about it, putting pressure, playing alone, low, whatever you want to do. Did you see the free-kick he scored the other day?

“He can grasp the ball by myself, he performed on the Olympic Games, he performed within the Copa America. I do not pay attention him announcing, ‘I’m drained’ or now not drained. Hopefully not anything dangerous goes to occur to him. He’s performed the entirety and the best way he performs, I identical to him.”

Arteta’s loss of silverware on the finish of a season right through which Newcastle and Crystal Palace claimed the home cups and Tottenham have been triumphant within the Europa League has raised questions.

While Henry continues to again the Spaniard, he is aware of that drought can not proceed.

Asked about what Arteta has constructed, the 47-year-old stated admitted he used to be doing a “great job”, however added: “At the beginning when it’s not your team, you need at the very least three to four transfer windows to be able to change everything that you want to change.

“It takes time. You have to present a supervisor time so to put in force what he desires to do.

“Now, the remaining 3 years, we’ve got been in a state of affairs the place we must a minimum of deliver a cup [to the club], or [be in] a last.

“Man Utd played five finals in their last five years – the United that everyone laughs at. In the last three years of building, you [Arsenal] didn’t reach a final.

“So I do perceive when other people ask the query – without a doubt you’ll have competed for a trophy being within the ultimate. This yr we did not compete with Liverpool. I do not know what other people assume, however we did not compete, now not as soon as.

“I’m not saying [this season was a] disappointment, but it’s normal that people are raising questions now about what the team is doing.”

Sky Sports to turn 215 are living PL video games from subsequent season

From subsequent season, Sky Sports’ Premier League protection will building up from 128 fits to a minimum of 215 video games completely are living.

And 80 in step with cent of all televised Premier League video games subsequent season are on Sky Sports