Ian Wright sends brutal Rasmus Hojlund and Darwin Nunez warning to Arsenal as the legendary Gunner claims Mikel Arteta 'can't afford' to buy a flop striker this summer

Former Arsenal forward Wright has admitted the club cannot afford to target the wrong striker this summer after their lack of edge in the final third cost them dearly in the Premier League and Champions League. The Gunners have been linked with the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko, but similar signings at other English giants like Manchester United and Liverpool haven't worked out despite the hefty sums spent on Rasmus Hojlund and Darwin Nunez respectively.

Arsenal's issues up front have caused them to stumble during the final few weeks of the season. Kai Havertz had scored nine league goals before getting injured in February, while Gabriel Jesus has only been fit enough to make 27 appearances this season and has been out since January. Strikers tend to fetch the largest fees during the transfer window and Wright highlighted Hojlund and Nunez as signings where the outlay in cash has not justified the return in front of goal.

Wright told Premier League Productions: "You look at Rasmus Hojlund, and he had nine goals for Atalanta, the money they paid for him [£72m], you're taking a chance on potential.

"Look at Darwin Nunez, £85m. I'm not sure Arsenal can afford to go in and get it wrong like that. Yes, we desperately need a striker but we need a kind of striker whose going to come in and will score because we can't do a Hojlund or a Nunez. I think there will be money for him [Arteta] in the summer but we can't afford to buy a striker that doesn't work because let's face it with them two, they've not worked up until this point.

"Arsenal again are fishing in a place where everybody is so you're going to have to pay a premium but you're going to have to make sure you get somebody whose going to deliver for you."

Bukayo Saka's injury absence was a major blow for Arteta, while Martin Odegaard has also not had his best season in north London with some spluttering displays. Arsenal were six points behind Liverpool on New Year's Day but that gap has since grown to 15, while they were eliminated from the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain at the semi-final stage.

Arsenal will hope to cement second place in the Premier League over the next few weeks, starting with a huge game against Newcastle on Sunday. They then finish the season away at relegated Southampton.