Arsenal have plenty of big decisions to make regarding their squad in the upcoming months however none more so than their striking department. A combination of contractual and age-related factors mean Mikel Arteta and Edu must make some tough choices.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette, Folarin Balogun and Eddie Nketiah’s future with Arsenal remain uncertain and beyond the summer window little is known about who will continue or whether sales or loan deals could take place.
Lacazette in particular however faces further questions. With his contract up at the end of the season, interest has been reported in the Frenchman which could see him leave earlier than expected. Therefore, The Arsenal Way has dove into the possible outcomes should that happen.
Arsenal would need to invest earlier
It is no secret that a striker is likely to be one of Arsenal’s desirables in the upcoming summer window. However, should Lacazette leave before the end of his deal, this may accelerate the plans of the club.
There has been a push to sign homegrown players and therefore targets such as Ollie Watkins and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have been suggested. The problem with the winter window is the increase in prices.
Clubs have little time to find replacements and the inconvenience of losing crucial squad members means that the buying side needs to increase the incentive to sell with a bolstered fee. Lacazette’s sale in January however could prove to balance this additional cost.
Balogun and Nketiah to stay
The African Cup of Nations is taking place this winter meaning that Aubameyang will be away from the club for the best part of a month. Were Lacazette to leave, this would mean the only natural options left for Arteta would be Balogun and Nketiah.
Nketiah’s deal is also up this summer, January could have been a chance to earn some money for the player’s sale, but should the 30-year-old move on, Arsenal would be too thin to sanction another departure.
This also means that any loan offers for Balogun would be rebuffed. The young striker signed a new contract with the hope of more senior opportunities but so far, they have been few and far between. A loan would have provided Balogun with more chance to earn senior experience, but his services would be required in north London ruling out a temporary placement.
Martin Odegaard’s route to the first team
Mikel Arteta has recently found his new favoured system. An interpretation of a 4-4-2 has seen Lacazette make his way back into the first team at the expense of Martin Odegaard.
The Norwegian was featuring regularly in the number ten role however the French forward has been deployed in the position to provide additional firepower to the Gunners. This switch has had a drastic impact and was influential in the last two league wins over Aston Villa and Leicester City.
With Lacazette out of the picture, however, Odegaard would find a route back into the team much simpler and his former creative midfield role returning. Arteta succeeded in the north London derby using the 22-year-old here however the momentum built in the latest system would be interrupted.
Arteta and Edu have a big choice to make should an offer come in for Lacazette, however logic points towards biting the bullet and keeping him until the summer before reassessing the squad with greater investment potential.
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