This is a not significantly unique assertion: Arsenal ought to most likely signal a striker!
The Gunners’ Premier League title hopes have been over for some time now, and it is their lack of attacking firepower that supporters wish to see addressed in the summertime.
Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Brentford was the twenty second time in all competitions Mikel Arteta’s crew have scored both zero or one objective in a match, doing so in a whopping 50% of their Premier League fixtures.
Thus, do the Gunners lead the race for one in every of Europe’s most sought-after centre-forwards?
Which striker are Arsenal searching for to signal?
In keeping with a report by Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal are hoping to finish the signing of Sporting Clube de Portugal striker Viktor Gyökeres, who he believes will probably be obtainable for as little as £55m this summer season.
Switch Focus
Mega cash offers, controversial strikes and big-name flops. That is the house of switch information and opinion throughout Soccer FanCast.
David Ornstein and James McNicholas of the Athletic beforehand reported that the Gunners have ‘developed a robust curiosity’ within the Swedish worldwide striker, with not too long ago appointed new sporting director Andrea Berta described as a long-term admirer.
They add that Arteta’s desire would truly be to signal Gyökeres’ worldwide teammate Alexander Isak, however Newcastle United ‘haven’t any intention’ of promoting their most-prized asset, not to mention to a direct rival.
So, might Gyökeres be the ultimate piece within the jigsaw?
How Gyokeres would enhance Arsenal’s assault
Each Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz are presently sidelined long-term; the Brazilian ruptured his ACL in opposition to Manchester United within the FA Cup in January, whereas the German required hamstring surgical procedure after struggling this harm through the warm-weather coaching camp in Dubai.
Nevertheless, regardless of scoring 29 objectives for the membership, Havertz was by no means purported to be Arsenal’s striker, initially signed as a midfielder.
Jesus, meantime, merely has not been the identical since struggling a knee harm in opposition to Cameroon on the final World Cup, because the desk beneath outlines.
Gabriel Jesus’ Arsenal profession in numbers | ||
---|---|---|
Statistics | Jesus pre harm | Jesus put up harm |
Appearances | 22 | 74 |
Minutes | 1,453 | 4,008 |
Targets | 5 | 21 |
Minutes per objective | 291 | 190 |
Assists | 6 | 14 |
Minutes per help | 242 | 286 |
Matches missed attributable to harm | 0 | 48 |
% of matches missed | 0 | 37.8% |
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt |
Because the desk outlines, Jesus merely can’t be counted upon attributable to health causes and is unlikely to function once more till Christmas, so he can’t be in Arteta’s instant plans.
Because of this, for now, Mikel Merino is spearheading Arsenal’s assault, his gorgeous strike in opposition to Actual Madrid final Tuesday truly his eighth for the membership, six of which have come since turning into the emergency striker at Leicester in February.
However, Gyökeres can be a transparent improve on the Spaniard, as his exceptional statistics at Sporting show.
Gyökeres’ Sporting profession in numbers | ||
---|---|---|
Statistics | Gyökeres at Sporting | |
Appearances | 95 | |
Minutes | 7,779 | |
Targets | 87 | |
Minutes per objective | 89 | |
Assists | 26 | |
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt | ||
Gyökeres within the Champions League 2024/25 | ||
Statistics | Gyökeres in UCL | UCL rank |
Targets | 6 | thirteenth |
Targets per 90 | 0.89 | seventh |
Pictures per 90 | 3.26 | twenty fourth |
Targets – xG (min 4 objectives) | +1.5 | fifteenth |
All statistics courtesy of FBref.com |
Gyökeres’ statistics at Sporting are clearly horrifying, therefore why Romano has labeled him a “objective machine”, including that he’s “needed by a number of golf equipment for the summer season”.
In the meantime, Ben Mattinson of Breaking the Strains believes the Swede is a ‘scientific finisher with nice motion’, additionally impressed by his ‘link-up play, physicality…. [and] top-quality ball-striking’.
Talking on the Arsecast Further, Andrew Mangan claims Gyökeres would symbolize a ‘win now’ signing, which is strictly what Arsenal are trying to do, therefore why they need to push the boat out to make this transfer occur. He is be an outstanding improve on their present choices.
Associated
Their reply to Isak: Arsenal in talks to signal “the brand new Erling Haaland”
Arsenal might signal their reply to Alexander Isak in a £60m deal.