Here’s a not particularly original statement: Arsenal should probably sign a striker!
The Gunners’ Premier League title hopes have been over for a while now, and it’s their lack of attacking firepower that supporters want to see addressed in the summer.
Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Brentford was the 22nd time in all competitions Mikel Arteta’s team have scored either zero or one goal in a match, doing so in a whopping 50% of their Premier League fixtures.
Thus, do the Gunners lead the race for one of Europe’s most sought-after centre-forwards?
Which striker are Arsenal seeking to sign?
According to a report by Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal are hoping to complete the signing of Sporting Clube de Portugal striker Viktor Gyökeres, who he believes will be available for as little as £55m this summer.
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David Ornstein and James McNicholas of the Athletic previously reported that the Gunners have ‘developed a strong interest’ in the Swedish international striker, with recently appointed new sporting director Andrea Berta described as a long-term admirer.
They add that Arteta’s preference would actually be to sign Gyökeres’ international teammate Alexander Isak, but Newcastle United ‘have no intention’ of selling their most-prized asset, let alone to a direct rival.
So, could Gyökeres be the final piece in the jigsaw?
How Gyokeres would improve Arsenal's attack
Both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz are currently sidelined long-term; the Brazilian ruptured his ACL against Manchester United in the FA Cup in January, while the German required hamstring surgery after suffering this injury during the warm-weather training camp in Dubai.
However, despite scoring 29 goals for the club, Havertz was never supposed to be Arsenal’s striker, initially signed as a midfielder.
Jesus, meantime, simply has not been the same since suffering a knee injury against Cameroon at the last World Cup, as the table below outlines.
Appearances
22
74
Minutes
1,453
4,008
Goals
5
21
Minutes per goal
291
190
Assists
6
14
Minutes per assist
242
286
Matches missed due to injury
0
48
% of matches missed
0
37.8%
As the table outlines, Jesus simply cannot be counted upon due to fitness reasons and is unlikely to feature again until Christmas, so he cannot be in Arteta’s immediate plans.
As a result, for now, Mikel Merino is spearheading Arsenal’s attack, his stunning strike against Real Madrid last Tuesday actually his eighth for the club, six of which have come since becoming the emergency striker at Leicester in February.
Nevertheless, Gyökeres would be a clear upgrade on the Spaniard, as his remarkable statistics at Sporting prove.
Appearances
95
Minutes
7,779
Goals
87
Minutes per goal
89
Assists
26
Statistics
Gyökeres in UCL
UCL rank
Goals
6
13th
Goals per 90
0.89
7th
Shots per 90
3.26
24th
Goals – xG (min 4 goals)
+1.5
15th
Gyökeres’ statistics at Sporting are obviously frightening, hence why Romano has labeled him a “goal machine”, adding that he is “wanted by several clubs for the summer”.
Meanwhile, Ben Mattinson of Breaking the Lines believes the Swede is a ‘clinical finisher with great movement’, also impressed by his ‘link-up play, physicality…. [and] top-quality ball-striking’.
Speaking on the Arsecast Extra, Andrew Mangan claims Gyökeres would represent a ‘win now’ signing, which is exactly what Arsenal are attempting to do, hence why they should push the boat out to make this move happen. He’s be a phenomenal upgrade on their current options.
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