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Soccer

Emmanuel Petit doesn't think Arsenal squad is deep enough to compete for Champions League and Premier League

Emmanuel Petit doesn't think Arsenal squad is deep enough to compete for Champions League and Premier LeagueDavid Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Arsenal still need a striker if they are to compete for trophies, says Emmanuel Petit.

The Gunners hope to win the Premier League title this year after finishing as runners-up to Manchester City in each of the last two seasons and they are also looking to making a deep run in the Champions League.

However, Petit doesn't think the North London side have enough depth to mount a serious challenge on multiple fronts, and he pointed at the club's failure to upgrade at forward as one of the main reasons.

"I think Arsenal had a few targets that they liked," Petit told topoffshoresportsbooks.com. "It wasn’t only Benjamin Sesko, but perhaps he was the player that they really, really wanted.

"I think Ivan Toney would have been a good option, but there was no way Arsenal were going to pay him £400,000 a week, so he went to Saudi Arabia.

"I think Arteta is looking at what his great friend and mentor Pep Guardiola did at Manchester City. To win the Champions League, City went out and got Erling Haaland.

"I’m looking at Arsenal’s squad, the depth, and it’s not the same as Manchester City’s. I think the starting eleven is good enough to beat anyone, but the bench is a little bit short. I think it’s short to compete for every single trophy; to go deep in the Champions League and the Premier League.

"Several Arsenal players had long, long seasons. Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, [Kai] Havertz, [William] Saliba, and Arsenal will need them to last the distance if they want to be successful this year.

"They signed a few players, and I like the signings, but I think the club are missing a striker. I think Arsenal need a proper striker, they need someone that gives them a Plan B, because sometimes they are a bit predictable with the way they play.

"If you have two or three important players that are not on it, which is what happened against Brighton, it's not the same Arsenal team. Arsenal needs more competition in the squad, especially in the striker position."

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