ARSENAL legend Ray Parlour has urged the Gunners to revamp their frontline if they want to retain their Premier League crown next season.
And the retired midfielder reckons his former club needs to break the bank and bring in both Julian Alvarez AND Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to do so.
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Mikel Arteta guided Arsenal to their first league title in 22 years last season Credit: Alamy
Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has urged Arteta to revamp his attack if he wants to retain the title Credit: Getty
Arsenal ended a 22-year wait for the league title this season, and many have already tipped them to be runaway champions next term.
But Parlour, who won three league titles with the Gunners, claimed Arsenal need to strengthen up top if they want to retain the trophy.
He told JattvibeSport: “You can’t stand still in the Premier League.
“Every club will be trying to bring in someone who is going to make a big difference in their team. Arsenal have got to try and do the same.
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“I don’t know what sort of players will be leaving, but there will be some that have to leave and you have to assess what positions you need.”
For Parlour, the centre-forward position is one that is in need of an upgrade in N5.
Viktor Gyokeres ended the campaign as Arsenal’s top scorer in all competitions, netting 21 times following his £63.5m switch from Sporting Lisbon in the summer, but Parlour still thinks Arsenal need another big-name striker.
He added: “They definitely need another striker. There’s no doubt about that. Kai Havertz has done a decent job when playing up there, as has Mikel Merino, but they are midfielders, really.
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“Gabriel Jesus looks like he could be on his way. I do believe they need another No9. They had that competition with Viktor Gyokeres, and while Gyokeres has done all right in the end, they need another striker.”
Parlour also reckons strengthening on the left wing will help the Gunners achieve back-to-back league titles, something he never achieved during his Arsenal career.
And the 10-time England international has urged his former club to splash out on Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kvaratskhelia and Atletico ace Alvarez if they want to achieve what his crop couldn’t.
Parlour added: “I would like to get Kvaratskhelia from PSG on the left if they can. But I don’t think you’ll get him.
“That’s the sort of player who would certainly be better for you on the left-hand side.
“At centre-forward, it’s a really weird time now because I remember the England squads I was in, the centre-forwards we had were unbelievable.
“We had the likes of Alan Shearer, Teddy Sheringham, Andy Cole, Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen, Les Ferdinand. So many good strikers.
“But there aren’t a lot of strikers out there now. Obviously, Julian Alvarez would be perfect if they could get him out of Atletico Madrid.”
Parlour has been taking part in E.ON Next’s ‘Watch and Wash’ campaign
This summer E.ON Next is encouraging people to get their washing done when they’re up watching football at night, to take advantage of cheaper off-peak electricity prices.
New ‘Watch and Wash’ campaign launches as it’s revealed the nation could save £93 million collectively if they washed and watched this summer with the Next Smart Saver tariff.
Parlour, who was speaking exclusively to JattvibeSport as part of E.ON Next’s ‘Watch and Wash’ campaign, said: “It’s a great campaign.
“Obviously, the games are not really good times for England fans, so you might as well get something out of it as well.
“And if you can save a little bit of money on your electricity bill, then that helps everyone because the cost of living these days is always going up.”
