Manchester City’s 4-1 victory over Premier League title rivals Arsenal starkly exposed the Gunners’ weaknesses.
Man to man, all Man City players had the edge over their Gunners counterparts.
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Arteta’s squad weaknesses laid bare at Etihad
The defending champions negated the threat from Mikel Arteta’s young side except for a moment of brilliance from Rob Holding for his second-half goal.
And that dominance was mainly down to Man City’s physical prowess.
It’s something the Gunners have already considered acquiring when they plan to build their squad next season, according to the Times.
This is on top of the attempt to add depth, with their injuries to William Saliba – who are reportedly yet to agree a new contract – and Gabriel Jesus signaling another rift in their title charge.
Edu nearly got Moises Caicedo for £70million from Brighton in January, demonstrating the type of player the Gunners are looking for with the Seagulls man fitting the physical bill.
Not to mention that their main target this summer is West Ham’s Declan Rice.
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Rice is the type of player Arsenal need
They also had their eye on Everton’s Amadou Onana in January, another player capable of dominating in midfield.
But one Arsenal star who fits the profile of player the Gunners need in the physical battles on the pitch is Thomas Partey.
The 29-year-old Ghanaian midfielder has been key to Arsenal’s success this year, and his absence or any drop in form is clearly noticeable in the Gunners’ performances.
There is no doubt that the Arsenal squad possess incredible talent, with their position in the league speaking for itself.
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Partey’s efforts in midfield helped guide the Gunners to top spot
But it’s clear that a team this young that relies on smooth passing needs to be bolstered by players with Partey’s strength.
Games such as their 1-0 defeat at Everton and their 2-2 draw with West Ham also showed there is a lot of work to be done when it comes to dealing with the Gunners who can bully you off the ball. .
And if Arsenal are to be crowned Premier League champions, bringing in players similar to those who kept them at bay on Wednesday will be essential.