Arsenal join race to sign £100m PL star

There have been two important issues for Arsenal this season: accidents and lacklustre attacking type.

We should not underplay the significance of the previous, as Mikel Arteta has needed to cope with out the likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Magalhaes for lengthy stretches of the marketing campaign, whereas Liverpool have been fairly lucky with their star gamers.

Nevertheless, the North Londoners’ lack of cutting-edge has been simply as problematic, and as issues stand, there is not a single participant within the group who has hit double digits for targets within the Premier League.

So, with this in thoughts, it is unsurprising to see latest reviews linking the membership with an thrilling striker who has hit the milestone and might be an actual improve on Kai Havertz.

Arsenal’s striker search

Earlier than attending to the participant in query, it is value analyzing among the different Premier League strikers linked with Arsenal in latest weeks, similar to Ollie Watkins and Liam Delap.

The previous may be accessible for round £50m this summer time, and as he is racked up a sensational haul of 17 targets and 13 assists in 52 video games this season, it might be arduous to say that is not a good worth.

Delap, then again, has a launch clause of simply £30m in his contract, and with 12 targets and two assists in 38 video games, that when once more feels fairly cheap.

Nevertheless, one other centre-forward has now been touted for a transfer to the Emirates, Joao Pedro.

Sure, based on a latest report from journalist Sam Dean, Arsenal are amongst plenty of Premier League golf equipment within the Brighton & Hove Albion star.

Alongside the Gunners, Dean has revealed that Chelsea and Liverpool are notably eager on the Brazilian striker, who, based on reviews from final month, might price £100m, though that would come down in negotiations.

Whereas it might be an advanced and dear switch to get achieved, Arsenal ought to nonetheless pursue it, as Pedro’s proven glimpses of brilliance on the south coast and will symbolize an actual improve on Havertz.

How Pedro compares to Havertz

If the final season and a half has advised us something about Arsenal’s assault, it is that Havertz is firmly forward of Gabriel Jesus within the pecking order to start out up prime.

Subsequently, if the membership had been to signal Pedro within the coming weeks and months, he’d be up towards the German for a beginning berth, however who comes out on prime once we evaluate them?

Properly, in relation to their uncooked output within the league this season, it is the “sensational” Brazilian, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, who comes out on prime.

In 27 appearances, totalling simply 1953 minutes, he has discovered the again of the online on ten events and offered six assists, which comes out to a mean of a purpose involvement each 1.68 video games, or each 122.06 minutes.

In distinction, the Gunners’ quantity 29 was in a position to rating 9 targets and supply three assists in 21 league appearances, totalling 1842 previous to his harm, which comes out to a mean of a purpose involvement each 1.75 video games, or each 153.5 minutes.

Sadly for the previous Chelsea star, he additionally nearly comes out second-best once we have a look underneath the hood and evaluate their underlying numbers.

For instance, within the majority of related metrics, the Seagulls’ ace comes out on prime, metrics like targets plus assists, progressive passes and carries, shot and goal-creating actions, key passes, passes into the ultimate third and penalty space, profitable take-ons and extra, all per 90.

In the end, as long as they’ll deliver that payment down considerably, then Arsenal needs to be seeking to signal Pedro this summer time, as not solely does he have a greater price of return within the Premier League than Havertz, however he additionally has a much more spectacular set of underlying numbers.