Arsenal verdict: Arteta needs to hammer down boardroom door and demand club sign Dusan Vlahovic to fix attacking woes

IT’S time for Mikel Arteta to stamp his foot down and demand more from the Arsenal board.

More funds for a new striker and more done to ship out outcast striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The Gunners huffed and puffed their way to dismal 0-0 draw against Burnley that showed they are desperate for something new in the final third.

These days Alexandre Lacazette is the man charged with leading the line – but he is your usual 6/10 showing game-on-game.

And he probably won’t be around next season anyway.

Despite almost complete domination against the Clarets, Arsenal struggled to break through the visiting defence.

It’s clear Arteta doesn’t think Eddie Nketiah is the man to take Arsenal forward – he was sat on the bench until the 77th minute.

Aubameyang is back in London after worrying being diagnosed with suffering with ‘heart lesions’ while on international duty with Gabon at the Afcon.

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Surely there is no way back for the 32-year-old after his very public falling out with Arteta

But there could be some hope around the corner.

Rumoured transfer target Dusan Vlahovic was dropped from Fiorentina’s squad this weekend, with reports in Italy stating that he was ‘ignoring calls’.

Arsenal continue to be linked with the 21-year-old attacker – but will have to meet Fiorentina’s asking price, believed to be in excess of £66m.

If the Londoners start balking at the price tag, Arteta needs to grit his teeth and slam open that boardroom door.

There is no doubt the Gunners are utterly toothless up top. They have been left relying on goals from attacking midfielder Emile Smith Rowe and left-winger Gabriel Martinelli this season.

And they have only scored ONCE since the turn of the year – Bukayo Saka netting on New Year’s Day in the 2-1 defeat to Manchester City.

Vlahovic has a host of Europe’s top clubs chasing his services after scoring 17 goals in 21 Serie A matches for Fiorentina this term.

Juventus appear to be the main frontrunners as Arsenal continue to dither.

Emirates chiefs have already been in discussions with Fiorentina owner Rocco Commisso for a month but their patience is beginning to run thin.

It’s time for Arteta to get involved before any hope of a top-four finish are firmly extinguished.

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