Three Strikers Arsenal Should Chase This Summer
It looks like it might end up being a bit of a frustrating season for Arsenal, unless the Gunners can claim the Europa League trophy.
The North London club currently sit in tenth spot in the Premier League standings and that’s simply not good enough for a club the size of Arsenal.
Support for boss Mikel Arteta doesn’t seem to be waning just yet but the Spaniard will know that next season has to see greater improvements from his side or the supporters may grow restless.
They’ve had some successful outings during this campaign, yet consistency remains a big issue. Goals have also been hard to come by this term. No one in the top ten has scored less than Arsenal’s thirty-seven goal tally.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hasn’t reached the same standards that he has set himself in the past. Alexandre Lacazette has been continually linked with moves away from the Emirates for the past few transfer windows with FourFourTwo now speculating he could end up in Italy or Spain this summer.
Wide-man Nicolas Pepe still doesn’t seem to be the goalscorer that he once was in France and Eddie Nketiah currently doesn’t have what it takes to lead the line for a title challenger (in my opinion).
Arsenal’s leading scorer in the league is Lacazette and that’s with ten goals, you’ve got to imagine Arsenal would want at least double that from their top marksman.
With that in mind, I’ve come up with three strikers that may interest Arteta this upcoming off-season:
ODSONNE EDOUARD
One of The Gunners stars this year has been full-back Kieran Tierney. Maybe Arsenal could play the same trick and bring in another Celtic player to bolster their team.
Former PSG youth Edouard has been extremely successful since moving to the Glasgow giants. The French U21 internationalist has so far banged in nineteen strikes in all competitions this term. In total, the hitman has struck 83 goals in 161 appearances for Celtic. His record includes finding the net fifteen times in 36 European games.
Even though he hasn’t had the best of seasons this time around, in terms of form, Odsonne is still the Scottish Premiership’s top scorer. He’s a player that relishes the big games and would certainly be up to the challenge of playing in England’s top flight.
The striker can play as a solo front-man or as a partner with others. Odsonne possesses both pace and power. He can come deep, freeing up room for a fellow forward – ideal for someone like Aubameyang, Pepe and/or Bukayo Saka. Edouard can also run at or in behind defences. He holds the ball up well and brings others into the game. He’s also a classy finisher.
His style and attributes aren’t too dissimilar to that of Alexandre Lacazette. Odsonne Edouard’s current deal runs out in 2022, so you’ve got to imagine that he’ll leave for a reasonable fee during the next transfer window with Leicester City being heavily linked with a move (Source – Evening Times).
WOUT WEGHORST
If The Gunners are looking for someone with a bit more experience, then maybe they should sound out Dutchman Wout Weghorst.
The Wolfsburg striker has bagged himself 49 Bundesliga goals in the last three seasons (with this one still to finish). His physical presence would give Arteta a different dimension up-top, something Arsenal have missed since selling Oliver Giroud.
As well as his ability to dominate in the air, Wout is also a very cool customer in the penalty area. He’s usually a calm and instinctive finisher once he receives the ball in dangerous positions. Would almost certainly thrive if given the right ammunition from the likes of Tierney, Saka and Willian.
The Dutch international would also defend from the front and pressure opposition defences in deep positions, something that would probably excite Mikel Arteta.
What could scupper any transfer plans would be if Wolfsburg continue their fine year and finish in the Champions League places:
“I wouldn’t leave Wolfsburg for just any club,”
“It would have to really suit me – all the more so if we qualify for the Champions League.”
Via Bundesliga.com
That again shows why Arsenal have to go all out in the Europa League.
PATSON DAKA
Paston Daka has been scoring for fun for Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg, having scored 53 goals during the last two seasons.
Now before people scoff at the Austrian Bundesliga, remember Sadio Mane and Erling Haaland also shone in that league and with Salzburg before becoming global goalscoring stars!
Zambian Patson clearly has a keen eye for goal, with the ability to score inside and from outside of the box. He also has a great deal of pace and has no issues with running directly at opponents, he can also run into the channels.
He’s another player who can pressurise from the front and win the ball back in the opposition’s half. Daka is skilful and has no issues coming deep and linking up play. The twenty-two year old can shake off unwanted attention and would give Mikel Arteta even more fluidity in this frontline.
For Arsenal it might be about timing and getting in there ahead of Europe’s big guns!
Posted on March 19th, 2021 by scott
Filed under: Article
No to Edouard – To have a sales pitch for signing a player based on him playing for the same club as Tierney is dangerous.
John Stones played for Barnsley so do Arsenal sign a CB from Barsnley?
That was an opening line that established a recent link between the two clubs.
Given I watch a lot of Scottish football and stated just how good Tierney and Van Dijk were in the past, I think Edouard will do just fine in the EPL. Whether that be at Arsenal or not, only time will tell.