Gary Neville suggests Mikel Arteta has an obvious striker solution at Arsenal he hasn’t even considered yet

Gary Neville has raised an intriguing point about Arsenal’s striker situation, suggesting that Mikel Arteta may have overlooked a simple solution. With the Gunners struggling to fill the void left by injured forwards Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, Arteta’s player profiling is now being put to the test. In the midst of his search for a reliable striker to lead the line, Arteta could be overlooking a potentially game-changing option.

Mikel Merino’s unexpected and impressive performance as a makeshift number nine against Leicester City has brought attention to a possible answer. While one good match doesn’t automatically confirm him as a long-term solution, Merino’s clinical display shows there could be a straightforward fix to the team’s current striker crisis.

Yet, the problem persists. As Arsenal gears up for a high-stakes title race, aiming to leapfrog Liverpool in the Premier League, Arteta is keenly aware of the need for a player who can consistently find the back of the net. Leandro Trossard’s brief trial as the main striker against Leicester proved unfruitful, leaving Arteta with fewer options in the forward areas. Even with Ethan Nwaneri filling in for the injured Bukayo Saka, the coach’s tactical flexibility remains constrained.

Gary Neville, however, isn’t overly sympathetic toward Arsenal’s striker dilemma. He points out that the club knew well before the season began that upgrading the centre-forward position was a priority. Yet, despite this knowledge, Arsenal failed to act on it, a decision that might come back to haunt them in both the Premier League and the Champions League.

When discussing the potential for Merino to play up front, Neville suggested an alternative that seemed even more obvious to him: Declan Rice. The Manchester United legend pointed out that Rice, with his ability to arrive late into the box from midfield, might be an ideal candidate to fill in as a centre-forward. Neville even theorized that pairing Rice with Thomas Partey or Jorginho deeper in midfield, while Rice pushes forward, could offer Arsenal the necessary attacking presence they’re lacking.

Surprisingly, Arteta has not yet considered this option, despite Rice’s proven ability to score from midfield. Arteta’s reluctance to include Rice in his centre-forward conversation stands in contrast to the player’s own confidence. In fact, Rice has made it clear that he believes he could score 20 or more goals as a striker. When asked about swapping positions for one game, Rice jokingly called himself a “big target man” and boldly claimed he could score over 20 goals in a season if given the chance to play upfront.

While it’s possible Rice is overstating his capabilities, his comments highlight a valid consideration. Havertz himself has recognized Rice’s potential in attack, suggesting that the England international might just be a player worth experimenting with in the centre-forward role. For Arteta, perhaps it’s time to test this option, as a move that could provide the spark Arsenal desperately needs to continue their push for silverware.