Skip to content

Thierry Henry: Arsenal needs 4 new players to compete for title, Ozil must improve

Reuters

Thierry Henry believes Arsenal still has plenty of work to do if they hope to grow into legitimate title contenders in the coming years.

The club legend, having made the transition into punditry, was asked his opinion on the current state of his former club following Sunday's 0-0 draw with champions-elect Chelsea.

As is becoming a common theme with the Frenchman, he didn't hold back.

"Arsenal need to buy four players, they need that spine," Henry told Sky Sports. "They need a goalkeeper, they still need a centre-back, they still need a holding midfielder and, I'm afraid, they need a top, top-quality striker in order to win this league again.

"The best example for me today was Chelsea. They struggled last year and they were still competing to win the league. They now have (Thibaut) Courtois, (Nemanja) Matic, Cesc (Fabregas) and Diego Costa.

"For me that speaks volumes, and we saw it today. A team didn't and a team did, and Chelsea are about to win the league."

Henry, who holds the club record with 175 Premier League goals, then turned his attention to the incumbent players on the squad, saying they also need to improve if the Gunners are to have any chance of closing the gap to the top in the coming years.

"Players need to perform also," he added. "I will single out Mesut Ozil, who made his eighth appearance against a top-four team today.

"Zero goals, two assists. That is not enough. Since joining Arsenal he has 14 assists. Now if you look at Fabregas at Chelsea, he has 16 assists in one season.

"At one point, I do think, and I do believe, the players have to step up and stand their game up."

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox