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Gary Lineker has named the striker Arsenal should sign this summer as their lack of firepower looks set to cost them a shot at the Premier League title.
It felt like a defining week in the Premier League title race as Arsenal suffered a shock defeat to West Ham and Liverpool cruised past Manchester City.
Arsenal had the chance to close the gap to Liverpool to just five points on Saturday but were beaten 1-0 at home to Graham Potter’s West Ham.
Liverpool then extended their lead at the top of the table to 11 points with a relatively comfortable 2-0 win at reigning champions Man City.
Lineker and Alan Shearer agree it is absolutely essential for Arsenal to sign a ‘top-class striker’ this summer after leaving Mikel Arteta short of options this season.
Arsenal failed to make any January signings despite losing Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus to injury, and then saw Kai Havertz pick up a season-ending setback during their warm-weather training camp in Dubai.
Premier League record goalscorer Shearer named ex-Chelsea target Victor Osimhen as a possible Arsenal signing but Lineker believes the Gunners should look closer to home and sign Liam Delap from Ipswich Town.
Delap has already hit double figures in his first full Premier League season and is expected to leave Ipswich if they get relegated amid interest from the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea.
Osimhen, meanwhile, has impressed on loan at Galatasaray this season after being frozen out by Napoli boss Antonio Conte.
Asked by Lineker who Arsenal should get to solve their striker woes, Shearer said on The Rest is Football podcast: ‘Victor Osimhen is there isn’t he.
‘He without a doubt would score goals for them. The problem they’ve got now is the whole world knows they need a forward.
‘So a player who might have cost £60-70 is now going to be worth £100-110 when Arsenal come in. They’re going to have to pay over the odds and perhaps that was there issues last summer and in January, maybe they refused to pay over the top for someone.
‘They need a top-class centre forward, they did before a ball was kicked this season and my opinion hasn’t changed.’
Lineker then said: ‘If I were them I’d go for Delap at Ipswich.
‘I know he’s young and now entirely proven but he’s scored quite a lot of goals in the Premier League this season for a team that’s obviously struggled having been promoted.
‘I like him and his movement. There’s talk of him going back to Man City but [Erling] Haaland has singed a nine-year deal so you might have to wait an awfully long time to get a game.’
Shearer agreed that former Manchester City striker Delap could be a shrewd acquisition for Arsenal despite his lack of experience.
‘It looks like Ipswich will get relegated and he’s got a taste of the Premier League now,’ Shearer said. ‘There’s no doubt there will be some big clubs looking at him and other players.
‘He’s been one of their best players. I like him, he’s has a good season, he brings a positivity and a real strength. He’s only going to get better too given his age.
‘Maybe he hasn’t got the experience right now but in a year or two he could be a big asset.’
Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal but Shearer has major doubts over that deal.
He added: ‘I don’t think Arsenal can afford him. I really don’t. I’m being serious.
‘Why would he want to go there if Newcastle get into the Champions League and win a trophy. This could be a huge season for Newcastle.’
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