Ask Mikel Arteta who he wanted to have most for Arsenal in the summer.
The gunners must sign forward, and in Newcastle strikers they will get one of the elites of the game.
He has devastated the Toon of this campaign, scoring 23 goals in 33 games at the club level, particularly on his way to win the Carabao Cup.
But the big question about everyone’s lips is, will he move? It is said that Swedes are certainly not suitors, and that Liverpool and Chelsea are also interested.
But praise him from St. James Park proves difficult, especially as he is Newcastle’s most important player, as they reportedly slapped a £150 million asking price on his head.
That’s a very unlikely deal, so who and where will Arsenal change to the next?
Well, according to David Ornstein on Sunday, Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres is someone they have “strong interest.” but, We came up with three options, including mixing internal and external solutions.
1
Signature of a big money
Signature of a big money
Benjamin Sesco
If Arsenal is futile in the efforts to bring Isaac and Gyoker to the Emirates Stadium, they could return to Slovenian powerhouse Benjamin Sesco.
Arteta’s side had linked to the RB Leipzig Forward move last summer, but he decided to stay in Germany and sign a new contract in the process.
Another development in the Bundesliga has proven to be the right decision for the 21-year-old, finding the net in 17 times on 36 outings. It’s not a jaw drop sum, but given his age it’s a promising tally.
Sesko gives Arsenal a particularly unique profile. The young striker, who was praised as “The New Erling Haaland,” has a tall frame standing at 6 feet five, but he can run in the back with a quick.
This is an attribute that Arsenal’s central striker has not had in a long time.
Sobs vs Sesko on 24/25 | ||
---|---|---|
Statistics (per 90 minutes) | Isaac | Sesco |
the goal | 0.83 | 0.48 |
assist | 0.22 | 0.24 |
Progressive Carry | 2.81 | 1.68 |
Progressive Pass | 2.68 | 1.78 |
Key Pass | 1.54 | 0.72 |
Pass completed % | 74% | 67% |
Shot creation action | 3.29 | 1.83 |
The air won | 0.83 | 2.69 |
Aerial wins % | 32% | 58% |
Statistics via FBREF. |
Emirates supporters dream of a new shiny forward arrives in the summer, but if not, there are some internal solutions.
2
Change in position
Change in position
Gabriel Taney
Arteta was no stranger to trying something new in an attack with Kai Havertz, who was initially signed as a midfielder before becoming the focus of the attack.
With the German injured it was up to Mikel Merino to fill the gap. This was a position he had never played before before a 2-0 victory over Leicester in February, and the Spaniard came from the bench with both goals.
Merino has since scored two more points, but he is simply not the long-term answer.
Perhaps the final weeks of the season will grant Arteta a license to field Gabriel Martinelli in that role.
The Brazilian is a winger in trade, but in fact he has played as a striker in his career for 16 times and has scored nine goals. He starred in the role most notably in the 2019/20 season when Unai Emery was keen to pick him in a central position.
His first start for the North Londoner came as a striker who actually scored twice, winning Nottingham Forest 5-0. For those who doubt whether he can handle physicality, Martinelli, who scored through his head in that game, was slimmer, much younger.
He doesn’t have the same ability to keep the ball as Havertz does, but Talksport Pundit Gabby Agbonlahor has become more productive in the back by previously outlined that he would become such an eye-opening candidate.
“He (Martinelli) looks like a number 9 who drifts out of center and runs behind the defender and becomes a threat. He can finish too. I think he can make everything into number 9.
Well, if that prophecy comes true, it could save millions of clubs to people like Isaac and Sesco.
If Arteta doesn’t fantasize an attacker with a £46 million rating, he could always look towards the Hale End.
3
Hale End Solution
Hale End Solution
Ethan Nwaneri
Another option for Arteta next season is to use the Man of the Moment, Ethan Nuwaneri, in a more central role.
The manager has been cautious about the development of the teenager this season, but it has been difficult to get him into the spotlight.
He handed his first team debut as a 15-year-old, making him the youngest player in Premier League history. He certainly endured the hype. The attacker, now 18 years old, has found himself a regular part of the match-day team and a consistent starter amid Bukayosaka’s long hamstring injury.
Along the way, Nwaneri scored eight times this season. This has proven to be a side-threatening threat, including two in the Champions League.
That said, the most natural position for teenagers is in the middle. He is a trade-off midfielder, but he actually played as a centre forward in the eighth innings of the Arsenal Under-18.
By doing so, Wonderkid scored 10 times, particularly in 2023, scoring five goals in one game in the FA Youth Cup. He also appeared five times as a striker for the England youth side, scoring five goals and registering two assists.
Since then, Nuwaneri has certainly made a massive appearance and has been able to play in various positions for Arteta if he wished.
In the words of data analyst Ben Matinson, the youth is “quality” and he is “the true goalscorer.” It certainly sounds like a nice recipe for success.
Nuwaneri as a striker: Arsenal U18 | ||
---|---|---|
Opposition/year | the goal | assist |
VS Reading 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 City 2023 | 0 | 0 |
VS West Ham 2023 | 0 | 0 |
Vs. Crew 2023 | 5 | 0 |
Statistics through the transfer market. |
Isaac would certainly be Arsenal’s number one choice, but there is evidence here that if the incoming sports director Andrea Berta doesn’t panic.
Related
He’s better than Isaac: Arsenal line up big moves of “Europe’s best player”
Arsenal is considering signing one of the continent’s best athletes throughout 2024/25.