Arsenal has been labeled as experiencing an ‘unprecedented failure’ in the Premier League by Lucy Ward, while Rio Ferdinand has called for the club to acquire Alexander Isak.

TNT Sports expert Lucy Ward has launched a scathing critique of Arsenal, claiming the club has sabotaged its own Premier League title aspirations with the “astronomical failure” of not securing a striker this season.

With long-term injuries to key players Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, alongside the absence of the dynamic Bukayo Saka, manager Mikel Arteta finds himself with a depleted attacking lineup. In a desperate attempt to address the glaring void, midfielder Mikel Merino has been repurposed as a forward.

Arsenal’s winter transfer window concluded without any new signings, following an ambitious late bid for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins that was ultimately rejected. As it stands, the Gunners sit second in the table, but they trail leaders Liverpool by a staggering 12 points with just nine matches left to play.

At the beginning of the season, Ward had high hopes for the Londoners, predicting they would lift the trophy in May. Reflecting on their campaign thus far during TNT Sports’ The Breakdown: Premier League Special, she remarked, “I like what Arteta has done with Arsenal. I think that Arsenal have improved season-on-season. I think he’s moulded the group into what he wants. He likes what he’s got.”

However, she did not hold back in her criticism, stating, “But, I think it’s just an astronomical failure that they haven’t got someone who puts the ball in the back of the net.”

Ward, who has closely followed Arsenal’s matches this season, noted, “When they’ve been tight games and there’s been situations where if they had a proper goalscorer in front of goal, it would’ve been a straightforward game.”

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has suggested a straightforward solution to Arsenal’s striker dilemma, although it may not sit well with Newcastle United fans. “[Alexander] Isak’s the obvious answer because he’s here in the Premier League, he’s proven in the Premier League,” Ferdinand stated. “He scores goals against the best teams and best players.”

However, Ally McCoist believes it will be a tough task for Arsenal—or any club—to lure one of Europe’s most sought-after strikers away from St James’ Park. “If you’re Newcastle, you’re going the other way. You’re building the team around Isak, you’re not selling him,” he asserted.

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the Gunners may not have the financial clout to bring the Swedish striker to the Emirates. “Now that they’ve won [the EFL Cup], it’s even more difficult to get him away from there. The whole world is on it. It’s about finding these players before everybody else does,” Keown added.

He continued, “You’ve got to go after the players – a good free transfer. You can’t keep spending money on an obvious Declan Rice.”

As for Arsenal’s next steps in addressing their strikerless situation, Keown speculated, “I would suggest there’s already a player bought, it’s already done. They won’t make that mistake again.”

Yet, Ward remains unconvinced, stating, “They’ve jeopardised the title and it just looks careless so I can’t think for a minute that Arteta was quite happy. I think Arteta always believes in the power of five or six players, rather than one. He’s always said that. When it comes to goals, you need someone.”