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LAURA WOODS: BLANTANTLY OBVIOUS ARSENAL NEED A STRIKER

ARSENAL’S SEARCH FOR A FORWARD

What’s the difference between Arsenal and the top teams? A world-class striker – someone who will feed off the chances the team creates and put them away when Arsenal need it the most.

You don’t always need to win pretty and you also don’t need to score bangers. When Arsenal last won the Premier League it was narrow scorelines and a lot of draws.

What’s killing me this season is that Liverpool have gone from having a seemingly uncatchable position at the top of the table to dropping points and leaving the door ajar for other teams – like Arsenal – to close that gap.

Unfortunately, Arsenal don’t seem to want to take the opportunities. One cup exit and one hanging on by a thread – it’s become blatantly obvious that they need to stop messing around and get a top-class striker in if they want to compete with the big boys.

If not, I really feel like it’ll cost Arsenal dearly.

ZUBIMENDI MAKES SENSE – BUT STRIKER THE PRIORITY

The Martin Zubimendi signing talk tells you someone is leaving Arsenal in the summer, maybe more than one.

He’ll be a summer transfer so it’s not as mad as it looked initially. He’s also been a long-term target for Mikel Arteta and other Premier League clubs, so I can understand doing business early.

The timing is going to frustrate Arsenal fans because they’re dying for some striker news and it has to be a business priority. But it also tells you finding a good one might be harder than it looks.

Alexander Isak is still my number one choice but would Newcastle even consider letting him go while he’s in red-hot form and they’re back on course for a top-four finish? Probably not and especially not to Arsenal.

He’s also deep into a long-term contract and will be £100m plus. In all honesty, it looks unlikely, but we can dream!

ARSENAL FANS TAKE SAKA FOR GRANTED

Sometimes, I think we take Bukayo Saka for granted in this Arsenal team. We don’t talk enough about how good he is – because we’re just used to it now. When you don’t have him in the team, the drop-off is huge. His creativity, his work rate, the respect he commands and the confidence he brings to the whole squad.

He is just utterly invaluable to Arsenal and the fans. He isn’t just good for Arsenal’s standards, he is one of the best in the Premier League at what he does.

They will make do without him but it’s patching up a huge loss.

FOREST DESERVE ACCOLADES THEY’RE GETTING

Nottingham Forest are where they are in the Premier League because they have earned it.

Chris Wood is a revelation. Anthony Elanga has been immense. Nuno Espirito Santo has dragged them from relegation-threatened to title chasers.

It can be done – just look at Leicester – but I do not think it will. I think the experience of teams like Liverpool and Arsenal will prevail.

Yes, Arsenal haven’t won a title for 20 years, but this squad are steeped in lessons of title chases now. Disappointment is a huge lesson in itself.

Liverpool have title winners in their team that will be teaching the rest of the squad and have looked solid throughout the season.

I think there are too many twists to come and I just don’t think Forest will be able to keep it up for the entire season.

Forest fans must be living the dream though, three-and-a-half years ago they were last in the Championship and today they’re third in the Premier League having just drawn with Liverpool.

What a season!

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