Arsenal need a number nine - Here are the options
With the season starting to draw towards a close, attentions at Arsenal are already turning towards the transfer window and the market for forwards.
New sporting director, Andrea Berta, after almost 12 years at Atletico Madrid, comes with a wealth of experience, along with a reputation for ruthless negotiation and a bustling book of contacts.
And he will need it, with the approaching window appearing key in ensuring Arsenal avoid repeating the injury-fueled attacking crises of this season.
Luckily for Berta and Arsenal, options through the middle are in no short supply. Though, some will require a chunkier budget than others.
Viktor Gyokeres
If the scouting department were to sort their charts by numbers, Gyokeres’ name would appear at the top in nearly every category.
The Swede has scored a, truly, staggering 85 goals in just 91 appearances since his arrival in Lisbon in 2023, with 42 of those coming this season.
While not as refined as some of the other top strikers on the continent, what he lacks in technique, he makes up for in downright hunger for goals.
Through a combination of strength, power and pace, Gyokeres seems capable of converting almost any situation into a shot on goal.
However, there may be some concern over the league he plays in. Darwin Nunez’s strong numbers in Primeira Liga convinced Liverpool to shell out an initial £64m, a price that has looked more outrageous by the match.
Alexander Isak
Gyokeres’ teammate for the national team likely presents the dream option for Arsenal.
Isak, despite standing at 6’4, bears a stunning ability to move the ball beneath his feet at a pace even the Premier League’s best defenders struggle to keep up with.
Combine that with his devastating pace and ruthless finishing, and you have a positively monstrous force that Arsenal, more than once, have found themselves on the end of.
Unfortunately for suitors even thinking about asking the question of Newcastle United this summer, the Carabao Cup winners have slapped a price tag on their star forward that would likely exceed the Premier League transfer record.
Benjamin Sesko
Slovenia and RB Leipzig’s frontman offers a slightly different option.
Young, at just 21, there is still an element of the unknown about Sesko. But with 17 goals this season, including a highlight reel of irresistible finishes, there is certainly allure over the striker’s abilities.
Sesko is tall and quick, as capable of latching onto a ball in behind as he is of heading in a looped cross, but at this stage of his career, he can still be seen to let games pass him by.
The Arsenal squad were young and hopeful four years ago. Now, it is packed with world-class players who are entering their primes, if not there already, and want to win, now.
Given the appointment of Berta, the indications are that the boardroom share the sentiment. With the signing of their number nine, Arsenal will mark their intent and, crucially, they must get it right.