Mikel Arteta told Arsenal ‘should have signed £34m Manchester City star’

Emmanuel Petit has revealed the ‘missing piece’ for Arsenal to ‘take the next step’ and claims Mikel Arteta should have signed Rayan Cherki ahead of title rivals Manchester City.

Arsenal are in danger of going yet another season without a trophy after exiting both domestic cup competitions and losing momentum in the Premier League title race.

Arteta was eyeing a historic quadruple this time last month but Arsenal lost the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City before crashing out of the FA Cup against Championship side Southampton.

Back-to-back Premier League defeats, the second to Man City, has cut Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table to just three points, with Pep Guardiola’s side having a game in hand to leapfrog their rivals.

Arsenal have been brilliant defensively this season but have struggled offensively, scoring just four goals in their last five games.

Petit has urged Emirates Stadium bosses to bolster Arteta’s attacking options in the summer and says Arsenal should have signed Cherki before he joined Man City.

Cherki was rated as one of the most exciting players in Europe while at former club Lyon and has continued to impress since his £34m move to the Etihad Stadium, scoring a brilliant opener against Arsenal on Sunday.

‘If Arsenal want to reach the next step, which means playing probably better football, good football the whole season, they have to bring talented wingers,’ Petit told Andy’s Bet Club.

‘Look at Bayern Munich. Look at Paris Saint-Germain. Those teams who play very good, controlling football and are winning the best prizes have that kind of player.

‘Arsenal have Bukayo Saka, who has been injured and had a really bad season so far. Noni Madueke, for me, is a good player, but he’s not among the best in this position.

‘It’s quite the same on the left wing with Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard. I have respect for them, they are good players, but they are not among the best in their position.

‘So, for Arsenal, I think this is the missing piece. They need a striker as well, but I think the quality on the flanks is what the attack has been suffering from sometimes.

‘As I said, I think Arsenal has to change the competition for these positions. They have to bring talented players and probably also someone who can control the game in midfield, who has vision and can be the link between the midfield and the striker, just like Rayan Cherki is doing at City.

‘I wish Cherki would have gone to Arsenal. I was saying that for months and months last season. Pep Guardiola knows what it takes to bring that kind of player.

‘Arsenal is a very good team, but there are two big questions for them. First, you need to win something. You need to keep the spine of the team, just like you have been doing for the last couple of seasons.

‘But if you don’t win anything, it could become very difficult for some players. Some players will probably knock on the manager’s door, saying, “I’m tired, I want to win trophies, and I’m not confident I can win it here.”

‘The second big question is, If you do win trophies and you keep your best players, then you need to add more quality on the flank. Definitely.’

Manchester City will replace Arsenal as Premier League leaders if they beat relegation-doomed Burnley on Wednesday night.

If that happens, Arsenal will be able to respond when they return to action against Newcastle United at the weekend.

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