Arsenal transfer targets: What does Arteta want from a No.9?

Robin Bairner

23 Mar 2022 09:43 CDT
3 min read

Victor Osimhen, Napoli, 2021/22 — © ProShots

Arsenal will dip into the transfer market this summer, with manager Mikel Arteta eager to add to many areas of his team, yet it is in attack that the need for reinforcements is most urgent.

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Having loaned Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Barcelona in January, the Gunners were effectively saying goodbye to the Gabon international, who had been troubled by indiscipline.

Aubameyang’s exit left Arsenal with only two centre forwards, yet Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah as a bid to sign Dusan Vlahovic from Fiorentina failed. However, both of these players are out of contract in the summer. Lacazette may be retained, but Nketiah looks destined to be dumped.

Arsenal are on the lookout for at least one centre-forward, then.

What profile of striker will Arsenal sign?

Arsenal’s rebuild has been characterised by a raft of young players coming into the club. There are no signs that the Gunners are about to veer away from this youth policy, with any summer signing likely to be 24 or younger.

In terms of playing style, meanwhile, Arteta is said to be after a modern No.9. According to the Daily Express, he is chasing a player who will fit seamlessly into his 4-3-3 system. The Spaniard will expect the player to be mobile, and therefore capable of breaking in behind defences, yet also strong enough to play with his back to goal.

Finally, and perhaps most crucially, is the asking price for their targets. Having refused to match Juventus in the Vlahovic bidding in January – something they may already regret in view of the Serb’s stellar form – it seems that they are not willing to push much above €80 million for a player.

Who fits the bill?

Given these constraints, it would appear that Victor Osimhen and Alexander Isak of Napoli and Real Sociedad may be beyond their means.

However, it may be possible to sign Benfica’s highly rated Darwin Nunez for a fee in that region, while Jonathan David of Lille is another player who would fall into a similar category. Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin is another potentially viable target for Arsenal, but that could depend on the outcome of the Toffees’ relegation battle.