Arsenal chasing “one of the best STs in Europe”

It does not take a footballing genius to work out what Arsenal want this summer time.

Mikel Arteta’s facet didn’t recover from the road within the Premier League for the third time on the bounce this season, and whereas they sit only one place off Liverpool, they’ve scored 14 objectives fewer.

Now, a part of that’s undoubtedly all the way down to accidents, however it’s extremely evident that the Gunners want a brand new striker as soon as the switch window opens, and the board appear to agree.

Nonetheless, whereas Alexander Isak stays the dream signing for thus many followers, his doubtlessly £150m price ticket makes the thought of him transferring to the Emirates appear virtually inconceivable.

Fortuitously, latest stories have linked the North Londoners with somebody who may very well be a super various.

Arsenal’s striker search

Earlier than attending to the participant in query, it is value reviewing a few the opposite striker targets linked with Arsenal in latest weeks, corresponding to Viktor Gyokeres and Daizen Maeda.

The previous might transfer to N5 for round £70m, and whereas that might make him one of many Gunners’ most costly signings ever, he’d most likely be value it as, in simply 48 video games this season, he is racked up 52 objectives and 12 assists.

The latter may very well be obtainable for simply £25m, which could additionally show to be an absolute steal, as in simply 47 first-team appearances for Celtic this season, the Japanese worldwide has scored 33 objectives and offered 11 assists.

Nonetheless, Arteta and Co may need somebody with extra expertise of soccer in a top-five league, which might clarify the hyperlinks to Ollie Watkins.

Sure, based on a latest report from Soccer Insider, Arsenal are ‘planning to reignite their bid to signal’ the Aston Villa star.

The report has revealed that though the Claret and Blue rejected a £50m provide from the Gunners within the January window, he is again on the membership’s shortlist forward of the summer time.

It is unclear how a lot he’d price, however with extra time for Villa to discover a substitute, it won’t be far off Arsenal’s unique provide, making him an extremely interesting Isak various.

Why Watkins could be a fantastic Isak various

Okay, so the very first thing to say is that in a super world, Arsenal would simply exit and signal Isak, however that feels extremely unlikely to occur and factors to the primary important benefit to signing Watkins over him: the worth.

For instance, if the stories are to be believed, then the Villa ace might price as a lot as £100m lower than the Swedish worldwide, which in flip would permit the Gunners to splash the money on a number of different first-team gamers, like Nico Williams, Martin Zubimendi and others.

Furthermore, though he’d price a 3rd as a lot because the Toon ace, it doesn’t imply he’d be a 3rd nearly as good.

For instance, in 50 appearances this season, totalling 3054 minutes, the Englishman, whom podcaster Rohan Jivan described as “among the best centre-forwards in Europe,” has scored 16 objectives and offered 13 assists, which comes out to a aim involvement each 1.72 video games, or each 111.75 minutes.

In distinction, the previous Actual Sociedad star has scored 26 objectives and offered six assists in 39 appearances, totalling 3054 minutes, which comes out to a barely higher common of a aim involvement each 1.21 video games, or each 95.43 minutes.

Lastly, Arteta wants gamers he can depend on subsequent season, and in the case of health, the previous Exeter Metropolis star is way extra dependable than his potential competitor.

For instance, he is missed simply three video games for membership and nation throughout his complete profession, whereas the Swede has already missed 67, and he is solely 25 years outdated.

With Isak unattainable this season, Arsenal would do properly to signal Watkins instead, as on high of costing as much as £100m much less, he’d be way more dependable.