Arsenal could sign “one of Europe’s hottest prospects” to replace Saka

It simply has not been Arsenal’s season this yr.

Mikel Arteta’s facet have been handed a nightmare set of fixtures to kick off the Premier League marketing campaign. Then, they needed to cope with a number of suspensions, just for membership captain Martin Odegaard to overlook nearly two months of soccer on account of an harm picked up on worldwide obligation.

As soon as the Norwegian returned, the North Londoners appeared again to their finest, however back-to-back attracts within the league in opposition to Fulham and Everton as soon as once more prevented the crew from gaining any momentum.

Lastly, to spherical all of it off, the Gunners’ poster boy and undoubtedly most necessary participant, Bukayo Saka, is now set to overlook “many weeks” of motion after struggling a hamstring harm in opposition to Crystal Palace on the weekend.

It might be honest to say that, in the mean time, with out their talismanic winger, Arsenal’s prospect of lastly profitable the title appears one million miles away.

Nevertheless, the switch window is about to open subsequent month, and the membership have already been linked with a participant this yr who could possibly be the proper answer to their present drawback.

Arsenal’s inner options

So, earlier than we get to the participant Arsenal may signal subsequent month to resolve the difficulty of Saka’s absence, it is price trying on the attainable options inside the squad, and for our cash, two appear the more than likely.

The primary is what we noticed following the Englishman’s substitution on Saturday: Gabriel Martinelli enjoying off the proper.

The previous Ituano gem hasn’t been at his finest this season, however when enjoying off the alternative flank at Selhurst Park, he appeared genuinely harmful for the primary time shortly and managed to place away the possibility Gabriel Jesus missed within the second half.

Nevertheless, because the 23-year-old is of course right-footed, that might change how that facet of the pitch operates, so an alternative choice Arteta may take is beginning the left-footed Ethan Nwaneri there.

The 17-year-old is broadly thought of to be probably the most thrilling prospects within the league in the mean time, and whereas the supervisor would in all probability want to ease him into the facet extra fastidiously, this disaster could possibly be the proper alternative for him to ascertain himself as an necessary participant within the first crew.

Furthermore, whereas he has primarily performed in midfield for the primary crew this season, he has some expertise enjoying out extensive from his time within the youth sides.

With all that stated, neither of those choices is right, so what the membership may, and possibly ought to, do as an alternative is signal somebody subsequent month.

Extra particularly, they need to signal a star they’ve already been linked to.

The star Arsenal ought to signal

So, to get straight to the purpose, the participant Arsenal needs to be trying to signal subsequent month is Atalanta star Ademola Lookman.

The excellent news for followers is that the membership have been constantly linked with the previous Everton man for the reason that summer season.

Nevertheless, it might doubtless be an costly deal, as some experiences counsel the Serie A facet would demand round €70m for his or her man, which converts to about £58m.

Now, that’s undoubtedly some huge cash to spend on a participant in January, however based mostly on his type for the Bergamo outfit over the previous few years, it might be greater than price it.

For instance, in simply 45 appearances final season, the Nigerian worldwide, whom former skilled Nedum Onuoha dubbed “one of many hottest prospects in European soccer,” scored 17 objectives – three of which got here within the Europa League Closing – and supplied ten assists.

This season has been simply as spectacular for the 27-year-old.

In simply 20 appearances, he has already scored 12 objectives and supplied 5 assists, that means he is averaging a aim involvement each 1.17 video games.

On high of being a deadly attacker, the Wandswaorth-born dynamo can also be extremely versatile.

Subsequently, he may simply step into Saka’s function on the proper whereas the Hale Finish icon is out injured after which present competitors for all the frontline when he is again.

Finally, whereas there isn’t any good answer to dropping your finest participant, signing Lookman subsequent month could be about as shut as Arsenal may get.