Ask Mikel Arteta who he’d most prefer to convey to Arsenal in the summertime and it’s possible he’d counsel Alexander Isak.
The Gunners have to signal a ahead and within the Newcastle striker, they’d be buying one of many recreation’s elite.
He has been devastating for the Toon this marketing campaign, notably scoring 23 targets in 33 video games at membership degree on his strategy to profitable the Carabao Cup.
However, the massive query on everybody’s lips is, will he transfer? The Swede definitely isn’t in need of suitors, with the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea additionally allegedly .
But, prising him away from St James’ Park will show troublesome, not least as a result of he’s Newcastle’s most necessary participant but additionally as a result of they’ve reportedly slapped a £150m asking value on his head.
That makes a deal extraordinarily unlikely, so who and the place might Arsenal flip to subsequent?
Effectively, in line with David Ornstein on Sunday, Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres is somebody they’ve ‘robust curiosity’ in. Nevertheless, we’ve give you three options, which embody a mix of inner and exterior options.
1
The massive-money signing
Benjamin Sesko
If Arsenal are fruitless of their efforts to convey Isak or Gyokeres to the Emirates Stadium then it’s possible they’ll return in for Slovenian powerhouse Benjamin Sesko.
Arteta’s aspect had been linked with a transfer for the RB Leipzig ahead final summer season however he determined to remain put in Germany, signing a brand new contract within the course of.
One other yr of improvement within the Bundesliga has confirmed to be precisely the best choice for the 21-year-old, discovering the online on 17 events in 36 outings. It’s not a jaw-dropping whole however given his age it’s a promising tally.
Sesko would give Arsenal a very distinctive profile. Hailed by scout Jacek Kulig as “the brand new Erling Haaland”, the younger striker has a tall body, standing at 6 foot 5, however he’s additionally fast and able to operating in behind.
That’s an attribute the central striker at Arsenal hasn’t had for a very long time.
Isak vs Sesko in 24/25 | ||
---|---|---|
Stats (per 90 minutes) | Isak | Sesko |
Objectives | 0.83 | 0.48 |
Assists | 0.22 | 0.24 |
Progressive carries | 2.81 | 1.68 |
Progressive passes | 2.68 | 1.78 |
Key passes | 1.54 | 0.72 |
Move completion % | 74% | 67% |
Shot-creating actions | 3.29 | 1.83 |
Aerials gained | 0.83 | 2.69 |
Aerials gained % | 32% | 58% |
Stats through FBref. |
Supporters on the Emirates shall be hoping and dreaming {that a} shiny new ahead arrives in the summertime but when they don’t, there are some inner options.
2
The change in place
Gabriel Martinelli
Arteta has been no stranger to attempting one thing new in assault with Kai Havertz initially signed as a midfielder earlier than changing into the point of interest of the assault.
With the German out injured, it’s been right down to Mikel Merino to fill the void. It’s a place he’d by no means performed in till that 2-0 win over Leicester in February, the place the Spaniard got here from the bench to attain each targets.
Merino has scored two extra since then however he’s merely not the long-term reply.
Maybe the ultimate few weeks of the season will give Arteta the license to subject Gabriel Martinelli in that position as a substitute.
The Brazilian is a winger by commerce however has truly performed as a striker on 16 events in his profession, scoring 9 targets. He most notably starred in that position through the 2019/20 season the place Unai Emery was eager to pick him in a central place.
His first begin for the north Londoners truly got here as a striker in a 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest the place he scored twice. For individuals who doubt whether or not he’d have the ability to deal with the physicality, a leaner and far youthful Martinelli scored through his head in that recreation.
He gained’t possess the identical means to carry the ball up as Havertz does however he’d definitely be extra productive in behind, with talkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor beforehand outlining what would make him such an attention grabbing candidate for the position of a centre ahead.
“He [Martinelli] appears like that form of quantity 9 who will drift out vast from the centre and make runs behind defenders and be a menace. He can end too. I believe he’s received all the pieces to be a quantity 9. Martinelli may be like Henry and Henry did all of it. I don’t see why Martinelli can’t begin within the centre and drift out vast. He’s received all of it as a centre-forward.”
Effectively, if that prophecy comes true, it might simply save the membership thousands and thousands on somebody like Isak or Sesko.
If Arteta doesn’t fancy the £46m-rated attacker then he might at all times flip in direction of Hale Finish.
3
The Hale Finish resolution
Ethan Nwaneri
Another choice for Arteta subsequent season could possibly be to utilise man of the second, Ethan Nwaneri, in a extra central position.
The supervisor has been cautious with {the teenager}’s improvement this season but it surely’s been exhausting to maintain him out of the limelight.
Handed his first-team debut as a 15-year-old, making him the youngest participant in Premier League historical past, he’s definitely lived as much as the hype. Now 18 years of age, the attacker is a daily a part of the match day squad and has discovered himself to be a constant starter amid Bukayo Saka’s prolonged hamstring harm.
Within the course of, Nwaneri has scored eight occasions this season, together with twice within the Champions League and has confirmed himself to be a menace on the flanks.
That mentioned, {the teenager}’s most pure place is within the center. He’s an attacking midfielder by commerce however has truly performed as a centre-forward on eight events for Arsenal U18s.
In doing so, the wonderkid has scored ten occasions, notably bagging 5 targets in a single recreation versus Crewe within the FA Youth Cup in 2023. He is additionally featured as a striker for England’s youth sides 5 occasions, scoring 5 targets and registering two assists.
Since then, Nwaneri has definitely come on leaps and bounds and will play in a mess of various positions for Arteta if he so needs.
Within the phrases of information analyst Ben Mattinson, the teenager’s “ending is high quality” and he’s a “true goal-scorer”. That definitely seems like a stunning recipe for fulfillment proper there.
Nwaneri as a striker: Arsenal U18s | ||
---|---|---|
Opposition/yr | Objectives | Assists |
vs Studying 2021 | 1 | 0 |
vs Spurs 2022 | 1 | 1 |
vs Norwich 2022 | 1 | 1 |
vs Spurs 2023 | 0 | 0 |
vs Villa 2023 | 2 | 0 |
vs Man Metropolis 2023 | 0 | 0 |
vs West Ham 2023 | 0 | 0 |
vs Crewe 2023 | 5 | 0 |
Stats through Transfermarkt. |
Isak will definitely be the primary choose for Arsenal however there’s proof right here that incoming sporting director Andrea Berta needn’t panic if a transfer can’t be accomplished.
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