Craig Burley warns that Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus could ultimately lead to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta losing his job if they continue to underperform in crucial matches like their recent defeat against Newcastle United. The loss has dealt a blow to their title hopes and highlights their desperate need for a top-tier striker like Alexander Isak, whom they have been priced out of signing. Burley explains that Arsenal's struggles in the final third, compared to their competitors, could be due to a lack of goal-scoring options.
Arsenal's Title Hopes in Jeopardy: Burley Warns of Arteta's Position
Arsenal's recent 1-0 loss to Newcastle United has cast a shadow over their title aspirations, with pundits expressing concerns about the team's performance. Craig Burley, a former Chelsea and Scotland international, has issued a stern warning to manager Mikel Arteta, stating that the club could lose him if star attackers Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus continue to underperform in crucial matches.
Burley highlighted the lack of goal-scoring options for Arsenal, comparing their struggles in the final third to that of their title rivals. He believes that the absence of a top-tier striker, like Alexander Isak, has contributed to the team's inability to convert chances.
The loss against Newcastle has dealt a blow to Arsenal's title hopes, who now trail league leaders Manchester City by six points. The Gunners have struggled to find consistency this season, winning some matches convincingly but faltering in others.
Background
Arsenal has been searching for a world-class striker for several years, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang departing in January 2022 and Alexandre Lacazette leaving at the end of the season. The club pursued Isak in the summer transfer window, but a deal failed to materialize due to the Swedish international's high price tag.
Havertz, a German international, joined Arsenal from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020 for a club-record fee. He has shown flashes of brilliance but has failed to consistently deliver at the Emirates Stadium. Jesus, a Brazilian international, joined from Manchester City last summer and has been the team's leading scorer this season. However, he has been criticized for his poor finishing in recent matches.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
Q: Why is Arsenal struggling to score goals? A: Arsenal lacks a consistent goal-scoring threat up front. Havertz and Jesus have both underperformed this season, and the team needs to acquire a top-quality striker to address this issue.
Q: Is Arteta's job at risk? A: Burley has warned that Arteta's position could be in jeopardy if Arsenal's poor form continues. The club's recent loss to Newcastle has raised concerns about their title hopes and the manager's ability to get the best out of his players.
Q: Who could Arsenal sign as a striker? A: Arsenal has been linked with several strikers in recent months, including Isak, Dusan Vlahovic, and Victor Osimhen. However, signing a top-tier striker will be difficult due to the high transfer fees and competition from other clubs.
Q: What are Arsenal's title chances? A: Arsenal's title hopes have taken a blow after the loss to Newcastle. They now trail Manchester City by six points and face a tough run of fixtures in the coming weeks. Winning the title will be a difficult challenge, but it is not impossible if Arteta can improve the team's performance.
Q: What are the next steps for Arsenal? A: Arsenal must respond to the Newcastle loss with a strong performance in their upcoming Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur. They need to find ways to create more chances and score more goals if they want to maintain their title aspirations.
The decision to pick pacer Harshit Rana over seasoned player Mohammed Shami for India's tour of Australia has caused quite a stir among former cricketers. While Rana's inclusion has surprised many, critics like K. Srikkanth and Ravichandran Ashwin have questioned the decision, with the former accusing head coach Gautam Gambhir of being biased. Gambhir, however, defended Rana's selection, citing his performance and the unfairness of targeting a young player on social media.
In the 20th match of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, Deepti Sharma achieved a personal milestone by taking her 150th wicket in ODI cricket. This came in the 16th over of the match when she dismissed England opener Tammy Beaumont. Despite this breakthrough, England continued to dominate the Indian bowlers, scoring at a good rate and losing just one wicket by the 18th over. India will need to keep taking wickets to prevent a big total from the visitors.
Despite Mohammad Siraj's impressive saves on the boundary, India struggled in the first ODI against Australia, only managing to score 136 runs in 26 overs due to rain interruptions. While Siraj's efforts were a bright spot for the visitors, Australia's batters easily chased down a DLS target of 131 to win by 7 wickets. India's pacers failed to match the control of their Australian counterparts, with Mitchell Marsh taking advantage and hitting sixes off each of them.
21-year-old Shubman Gill took over as captain for Team India in the ODI match against Australia but was unable to secure a win. With this defeat, Gill's name entered an unwanted list as he became only the second Indian to lose in their first Test, ODI and T20I as captain. This is in contrast to Virat Kohli's successful debut as captain across all formats previously.
After a tough loss in the opening Test, the West Indies showed grit and determination in their second Test against India. Despite falling short, the team's efforts were acknowledged by Team India coach Gautam Gambhir, who gave a motivational speech and urged them to continue inspiring the next generation of cricketers. This proves that even small contributions within a team can make a big impact, and a solid Test team is the hallmark of a good cricketing nation.
Team India's strong start in the first ODI against Australia was hampered by Shreyas Iyer's early dismissal for 11 runs. The right-handed batter fell to Josh Hazlewood's clever ploy of utilising short-pitched deliveries, showcasing the veteran seamer's excellent abilities. With India's top order crumbling, the visitors were in trouble at 52/4 in 16.4 overs. Stay updated with live coverage of the 2025 IPL auction and other cricket news at Sportskeeda.
Indian cricketer, Arshdeep Singh, the joint-most expensive Indian bowler in IPL history, credits teammate Jasprit Bumrah for his success in bowling yorkers. Arshdeep, who is India's highest wicket-taker in T20Is, recently appeared on the Breakfast With Champions show where he talked about his inspiration for mastering yorkers. He also revealed that he has studied videos of legendary bowlers such as Wasim Akram and Zaheer Khan to improve his bowling skills.
India's Women's World Cup hopes hang in the balance as they face off against England in a crucial match. Despite a shaky start, India is determined to qualify for the semifinals, but will need to make significant improvements, especially in batting and bowling. Meanwhile, England is looking to maintain their strong position in the tournament and welcome back key players Sophie Ecclestone and Lauren Bell.
The Indian Cricket Team is gearing up for their upcoming ODI series against Australia, with the spotlight on star players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. In a recently posted video, the two were seen having an intense conversation with head coach Gautam Gambhir during a practice session. This has sparked mixed reactions among fans, as Rohit Sharma had recently been replaced as the ODI captain by Shubman Gill. However, the right-hander has been working hard to make a comeback and looked in great shape during the net session.
During the recent India-Australia ODI match, former assistant coach Abhishek Nayar lost his cool when he saw Rohit Sharma sharing popcorn with Shubman Gill during a rain break. This sparked controversy as Nayar had trained Rohit extensively for his return to the Indian team after seven months, during which he had lost 11 kgs. Nayar also opened up about Rohit's fitness journey, discussing the hard work and dedication that led to his transformation. This incident has reignited speculations about Mumbai and Gujarat's lobby in the team.