Mikel Arteta has been adamant that Arsenal gained’t purchase simply any ol’ striker nevertheless it’s feeling more and more determined over on the Emirates as we close to the shut of the switch window.
They’ve had a £60m bid for Ollie Watkins knocked again by Aston Villa and now apparently have 5 alternate options in thoughts as they give the impression of being to ease their ahead woes, with Bukayo Saka back-ups additionally a supposed consideration over a typical No.9.
We’ve ranked the six choices – together with Watkins – from the worst to the very best purchase.
6) Antoine Semenyo
He’s extremely two-footed, which stays a really uncommon commodity in trendy soccer and permits him to go both means on each wings, offering cowl for Saka in addition to granting Arteta the choice of utilising him on the left in his most popular beginning XI amid doubts over Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard’s means to constantly step up to speed.
There’s a Chip On The Shoulder aspect that shouldn’t be discounted, with Teddy Sheringham and Jamie Vardy testomony to the worth in these battling adversity to make it to the highest desk; Semenyo was instructed he wasn’t adequate by Crystal Palace on the age of 15 and was enjoying in League Two for Newport County 5 years in the past.
He’s been excellent for Bournemouth this season however there are maybe doubts as to how he might be able to switch that wonderful kind in a staff constructed to serve his counter-attacking brilliance to a extra possession-based facet. He’s additionally not a central striker, which is the precedence for Arsenal.
5) Bryan Mbeumo
It’s for those self same causes that Mbeumo – who ought to completely be being thought of by Arsenal and any high staff trying to signal a winger – shouldn’t be nearer the highest of this record.
He’s been sensible for Brentford in an identical Pace And Energy On The Break function to Semenyo however, just like the Ghanaian, is a proper winger somewhat than a central striker, albeit with extra expertise in that central place.
It looks like one in all The Large Boys is certain to snap him up in the summertime, however for now Arsenal needs to be conserving tabs somewhat than pushing for a switch that felt extra vital earlier than Ethan Nwaneri got here to the fore in Saka’s absence.
4) Ollie Watkins
There have been a number of causes obvious in Aston Villa’s totally entertaining win over Celtic on Wednesday why Watkins could be an awesome Arsenal addition, however he was once more discovered wanting with regard to the purpose that they’re trying to signal a striker this month.
Ridiculous penalty miss apart, which will be chalked up extra to misfortune than an absence of high quality, although it’s exhausting to think about a world-class goalscorer making the identical blunder, he spurned 4 very presentable possibilities that might undoubtedly have had the hysterical Arsenal followers up in arms had he been hitting these pictures straight on the goalkeeper whereas enjoying for them.
Fairly merely, he’s not a finisher, with Havertz (-0.9) being nearer to his xG than Watkins (-2.0) within the Premier League this season proof of that. He’s additionally 29, till he turns into 30.
READ MORE: Watkins is the Havertz of Aston Villa as large win ought to rule out second Arsenal d*ck transfer
3) Dusan Vlahovic
An xG underperformance of -3.8 in Serie A this season makes promoting Vlahovic over Watkins tough, however he’s 4 years youthful and certain considerably cheaper.
Reviews recommend he needs out of Juventus too, which undoubtedly helps, as though these Watkins “dream of enjoying for Arsenal” quotes have resurfaced in all places, it’s not clear whether or not he really needs to go away Aston Villa, who are actually ‘livid’ with Arsenal anyway and will in all probability do with a striker for the remainder of the season with Jhon Duran off to wash in a plunge pool of Saudi cash.
He’s obtained simply 18 months left on his deal in Turin and with Randal Kolo Muani becoming a member of from PSG and instantly usurping Vlahovic within the staff, Juventus are supposedly eager to discover a purchaser for the Serbian now in a bid to keep away from the identical state of affairs that noticed Federico Chiesa depart for a cut-price payment.
However Arteta has constantly acknowledged the necessity for “the appropriate participant” and ease of negotiations will solely be a minor consideration. Extra important elements will probably be his and Arsenal’s beforehand held curiosity – they pushed exhausting to signal him three years in the past earlier than Juve swooped – and the prospect of him rediscovering the shape that led the Serie A giants to pay Fiorentina £67m for his companies.
Within the two seasons earlier than he left for Juventus he over carried out his xG by 2.5 and three.8.
2) Mathys Tel
Each Premier League membership in want of a ahead additionally being isn’t essentially a purpose to combat for him, nevertheless it at the very least offers a sign of how extremely he’s regarded, with Bayern’s reticence to promote offering additional indication of his value.
Tel probably not enjoying for Bayern additionally shouldn’t be a priority as a result of that might nonetheless imply he’s the most effective strikers in Europe, with arguably the finest standing in his means of a beginning spot.
Sixteen targets in 83 video games paints a reasonably bleak image however the Harry Kane impediment has meant he’s made simply 33 of these appearances in his most popular central striker function, beginning solely twice.
Fact is we don’t actually understand how efficient a goalscorer Tel is or will be, and it’s potential somewhat than the completed article that Arsenal could be shopping for, however that’s nearly at all times the case when shopping for youngsters, with the plus facet being not solely his scope for enchancment but additionally the potential enhance in worth that comes with such a big gamble.
1) Benjamin Sesko
It’s claimed Sesko ‘has at all times been Mikel Arteta’s precedence’ and there’s definitely been longstanding curiosity within the RB Leipzig striker, who’s accused in some circles of being a scorer of nice targets – like his thunderb*stard vs Werder Bremen earlier this month – somewhat than the good goalscorer that Arsenal want, however even the slightest dig into the floor numbers suggests in any other case.
A finest league tally of 16 targets is hardly the good enchancment on Kai Havertz, who scored 13 within the Premier League final season, that Arsenal are in search of, and Sesko scoring these targets for RB Salzburg within the Austrian high flight doesn’t help his case.
Fourteen within the Bundesliga final time period is not any nice shakes both, however they got here at a fee of 1 each 109 minutes, with a purpose each 125 minutes throughout his entire RB Leipzig spell considerably higher than the information of Havertz (229 minutes per purpose), Gabriel Jesus (210) and some other possibility Arteta has to name upon.
Of the 127 gamers to fireplace off at the very least 25 pictures within the Bundesliga final season, solely Stuttgart ahead Serhou Guirassy (30.4%) had a greater conversion fee than Sesko (29.8%) and the Slovenian over carried out his xG by 5.98, the largest over efficiency in Germany’s high tier.
Sesko additionally has longevity on his facet as a 21-year-old, would offer a correct presence up entrance at 6ft 4in and is as comfy attacking the area in behind opposition defences as he’s coming to ft. Arsenal ought to really feel very comfy paying £67m as they’re clearly keen to shell out £60m on Watkins.