Arsenal need to focus on bringing in a consistent goalscorer for the club in the coming transfer windows. The age and contract situation of both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette means Edu must look at the striking department soon.
Several players have already begun seeing links to the Gunners. As is with every position in need for Arsenal, an endless list of possible options appears to form but the role of a striker is one the club must get right.
Typically, one of the costliest roles in the side, any investment in the forward position must be conducted smartly and attempt to secure as high a consistent goal output as possible.
Players such as Alexander Isak and Dusan Vlahovic have been touted as possible options for the Gunners. Two incredibly young players, still just 22 & 21 years of age.
Arsenal have an already very youthful squad, especially after the 6 additions in the summer all of whom were of 23-years or younger.
The saying ‘if you’re good enough, you’re good enough’ certainly has its place in the game but context is always king. Quality players improve sides, but it is important to balance squads with maturity and experience too.
Furthermore, adding another young striker could entirely block the path of Folarin Balogun who signed a new deal with the promise of more first-team matches. Having just been nominated for the PL2 player of the month award, the youngster continues to knock on the senior door.
Signing a player in their mid-twenties allows Arsenal to add further experience to the team whilst maintaining their strategy of ensuring players have sell-on value should they wish to move players on in the future.
Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri strikes the balance. The Moroccan international, who would turn 25 by the start of the next summer transfer window, fits the bracket perfectly.
He has also taken his step to a Champions League side from a team further down the league and continued to improve on his goal return. This is important because often when buying regular goalscorers their numbers can dip when taking their next move up the football ladder.
Nine goals in his last season with Leganes in 2019, he finished the 2020/21 season with Sevilla on 18 La Liga goals, 24 overall.
He is on course to improve with a better goal per game ratio in the league this season scoring 3 in the opening 6 games. But importantly he already has two assists in all competitions, an element to his game lacking in previous seasons.
En-Nesyri adds the aerial element that has been missing from Arsenal. His 6’2 frame though does not restrict his pace, with the striker having great speed and technical ability on the ball.
The downside is his price tag. According to Mundo Deportivo via Goal, the Spanish side would want a figure in the region of £38.5 million to consider a sale. His contract runs until 2025 and therefore they are under no pressure to sell.
Also, with the likelihood of Champions League football in Seville, Arsenal might need to qualify for Europe this season to have a hope of signing the striker.
Something which has a huge effect on plenty of the Gunners’ business in upcoming windows and the likes of Mikel Arteta and Edu plan their route back into the European elite.
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