Sunday 24 April 2016 22:47, UK
Thierry Henry admits Arsenal face a big summer transfer window and says the club must rekindle the excitement among the club’s fans by mounting a title challenge next season.
Thursday's 2-0 win at home to West Brom saw Arsenal move ahead of Manchester City into third place in the Premier League, as boss Arsene Wenger remains on course to lead the Gunners into the Champions League for the 19th season in succession.
But Henry insists Wenger's side should be challenging for trophies every season and Arsenal's record goalscorer believes a predatory striker can help Arsenal rival the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea for the Premier League next season.
Speaking on Sky Sports Now, Henry said: "I'm sure if you ask Arsene or any of the fans or players if they want to finish only in the top four they will say 'no we want to win the league', because it comes with the shirt and it comes with the badge that you have on your heart.
"But now you have to save the top four. Are the fans, the players and the manager happy with that? No, but being in the Champions League is vital for Arsenal Football Club, and if you want to build for next season you need to be in the Champions League to attract good players.
"Now who is going to come? That is always a tricky question because who do you get?
"Who are you going to get that will get the goals to help you win the title? Not the goals every weekend, but a guy that can score when you need to score, the guy who needs one opportunity to score to put you 1-0 up.
"Where are you going to get a Sergio Aguero, a (Robert) Lewandowski or a (Luis) Suarez from?
"Those guys don't come around very often. (Pierre-Emerick) Aubameyang might be available (but) are you going to be able to attract him? It's not always easy but who is going to stay? If you know who is going to stay then you can think more about who is going to come in.
"But the problem is Manchester City are going to be in the market next season, so will Chelsea, Man United and Liverpool.
"I go back to what Arsenal said that the team does not need many changes and if Sanchez can perform the way he is at the minute, and we have Mesut Ozil carrying on giving the assists he has been giving since the beginning of the season, then you would like to think a striker who can score [can make all the difference].
"But it's going to be a very busy summer for Arsene because you need to get that excitement back so that the fans can look forward to something next season."
Despite signing a new Arsenal contract last summer, Theo Walcott has found himself on the fringe of the action, playing a total of 19 minutes in Arsenal's last five league games.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - currently sidelined with a knee injury - has endued similar frustration, starting just nine league games for the Gunners this term.
Henry says the former Southampton duo need game-time, particularly 27-year-old Walcott, who has now been at Arsenal for more than a decade.
"I think Theo is a talent and obviously people keep on saying he is young," Henry added.
"But he has been in the game for a very long time. The thing I have always mentioned about Theo is can he be a starter? Has he been a starter since he has been at Arsenal? It's 10 years or so now since he's been at Arsenal, has he played 30 games a season in the league?
"I think it's time for Theo, whether it's at Arsenal or not, and I'm not saying he should leave or not because that is out of my hands, but he needs to start to play every time.
"He needs to start being the first name on the teamsheet. That is very important and it's the same for Ox - those guys need to play. It can be at Arsenal because we know how talented they are but even if it's not, those guys need to play wherever it is."
