Piers Morgan has called on Arsenal to make a bid to bring Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo to north London.
Ronaldo scored a hat-trick for United on Saturday - his second since the turn of the year - to help lift Ralf Rangnick's side above the Gunners on goal difference. The teams are level on points thanks to Mikel Arteta's men losing at Southampton, and the meeting between the sides at the Emirates Stadium on April 23 is looming large.
Arsenal have come close to signing Ronaldo in the past, with former manager Arsene Wenger reflecting on the possibility of such a move materialising when the Portugal star was still at Sporting CP. And Morgan, who has interviewed Ronaldo during his broadcast career, insisted a summer move for the veteran was a serious suggestion.
"Arsenal should sign Ronaldo this summer. I’m deadly serious," Arsenal fan Morgan tweeted during United's victory.
"That would solve our striker problem and help me move on from Aubameyang. I’ve already sorted @Cristiano a shirt."
The 57-year-old was alluding to his long-standing criticism of Arteta for allowing Aubameyang to leave for Barcelona. With Arsenal failing to replace the former club captain, and with Alexandre Lacazette missing the trip to Southampton after a positive Covid test, the London side fell to a third straight league defeat.
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Ronaldo's three goals against Norwich took him up to 15 for the season in the Premier League. He is now level with compatriot Diogo Jota in the overall standings, with only Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-min scoring more, and former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has also suggested the Gunners need a player capable of making that kind of a difference.
"He’s got 13 points alone from winning goals that he’s scored for them. That’s what you get at Man United," Wright told Premier League Productions (via football.london ).
"That’s exactly what Arsenal need, because if he wasn’t playing for United they’d be nowhere near where they are. That’s what you pay for and that’s what he’s delivered, he’s amazing."
Arsenal's defeat at Southampton was their third in succession, and ensured they failed to capitalise on top four rivals Tottenham losing at home to Brighton & Hove Albion. No Arsenal player has reached double figures for league goals this term, with Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe on nine apiece, and Morgan has spoken out over Aubameyang's resurgence in La Liga.
"A free transfer. WE GAVE HIM AWAY," the broadcaster seethed during the Gabon striker's two-goal performance in El Clasico in March.
"He’s been the world’s most lethal goal machine since joining Barcelona… and with every goal he scores, he makes Arteta look more absurd for giving him away," he added. Aubameyang scored just seven times for Arsenal before leaving midway through the season, but a goal for Barcelona at Levante on April 10 took him into double-figures in all competitions for his new club.
