Arsenal need to bolster their attacking options by signing two strikers in the summer transfer window, according to John Barnes.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left the north club in January to join Barcelona, meaning Mikel Arteta has been light on options up front.
Alexandre Lacazette has been Arteta’s primary choice to lead the attack, but his contract is due to expire at the end of the season, while Eddie Nketiah’s deal is also up in the summer.
Arsenal were reportedly interested in signing from Fiorentina in January, but the centre-forward joined Serie A side .
The north Londoners have also been linked with a number of No.9s including Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Benfica’s Darwin Nunez.
Liverpool legend Barnes has backed Arsenal’s decision to allow Aubameyang to leave the club, but believes the Gunners require two strikers in the summer.
‘ didn’t make a mistake in getting rid of , the situation was untenable. The fact that he’s scoring in doesn’t mean he would’ve started scoring if he stayed at Arsenal,’ Barnes told .
‘ looks like he’ll be leaving but they can’t sign anyone until the summer.Â
‘There’s no point crying over spilt milk, they just have to soldier on with what they have and they’re going to have to sign two strikers in the summer, but they will resolve that situation in the summer.’
Losses to Crystal Palace and Brighton have dented Arsenal’s hopes of landing a top-four finish, with rivals Tottenham now ahead of them by three points.
Barnes feels Antonio Conte’s Spurs are the ‘slight favourites’ to finish fourth and secure Champions League qualification.
‘Arsenal have a relatively inexperienced side. A month ago, I would have said they were favourites for the final Champions League place, but we were probably all quite naïve in thinking they had turned a corner after they started to win matches,’ Barnes added.
‘They’re still a young and inexperienced side, but the future is bright for Arsenal and the more they stick with Arteta and the young players [the better they will get], they’ll be just fine.
‘Tottenham – with Antonio Conte, Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son have a bit more know-how and they are ahead of Arsenal in that respect.
‘That said, we can’t write off Manchester United but between Arsenal and Tottenham right now, Spurs are slight favourites.’
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