Gyokeres hat-trick, Osimhen DROPPED - How Arsenal’s summer transfer targets performed this weekend

Robin Bairner

19 Mar 2024 05:52 CDT
6 min read

Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen. Arsenal, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Arsenal are in the thick of the Premier League title race for a second successive season, but Mikel Arteta will be busy in the summer transfer window building a team that is capable of mixing it with Manchester City and Liverpool on an annual basis.

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Almost everything that Arteta and Edu have touched in the transfer market has turned to gold in recent seasons, which is one of the reason that the Gunners have been resurgent.

Arsenal have bought wisely and have refused to get into bidding wars for players they have felt have become overpriced, landing them Leandro Trossard instead of Mykhailo Mudryk for example.

Scouts are scouring Europe for the next big talent to make a splash at the Emirates, and this is what they would have seen this weekend.

READ MORE: Latest Arsenal transfer rumours

Viktor Gyokeres – Sporting CP

Sporting were 6-1 winners over Boavista, despite trailing 1-0 in the final minute of the first half. FootballTransfers can confirm Arsenal scouts were there watching Gyokeres as he sparked the comeback with his equaliser before going on to score three times.

Arsenal’s leading summer priority, the Sweden international enhanced his chances of a move to the Premier League.

A full review of Gyokeres' outstanding performance against Benfica is here.

Ivan Toney – Brentford

After making an explosive start after his prolonged suspension, Toney has hit a barren spell.

The England striker has gone five games without a goal, with that run continuing on Saturday as the Bees came up short against Burnley.

It was a tough afternoon for Thomas Frank’s men, who saw Sergio Reguilon sent off in the first 10 minutes and could not recover.

Marcos Leonardo – Benfica

One of Arsenal’s top January targets, the Gunners ultimately allowed Leonardo to move to Benfica.

The young Brazilian has been going well in Portugal but had a difficult weekend. Replaced after an hour of his side’s 1-0 win over Casa Pia, with the goal coming after he was withdrawn. He did manage four shots, however.

Donyell Malen - Dortmund

Malen has been on fire for BVB lately, and though he failed to score against Frankfurt, he was able to fashion an assist. Set up Karim Adeyemi for the equalising goal as it seemed Edin Terzic’s side were in for another difficult afternoon.

His eight touches in the Frankfurt box highlights his regular use as an attacking outlet for his side.

Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia - Napoli

Osimhen did not play a minute of Napoli’s 1-1 draw with Inter, sitting out the entire game as a substitute.

The Nigeria international is reportedly suffering from fatigue caused by a previous injury and is poised for an extended break before the Serie A champions meet Napoli.

Kvaratskhelia did play against Inter but was not at his best on the left of Napoli’s attack, turning in a moderate performance.

Completed a couple of dribbles and managed a shot on target, but just a single touch in the Inter box shows that the dangerous Georgia international winger was well contained. His task was made all the more difficult by Osimhen’s absence.

Antonio Nusa – Club Brugge

Norway wonderkid Nusa made his first appearance in three weeks after injury in a 2-1 loss against Sint-Truiden.

Completed a key pass and managed a shot on target but was unable to prevent his side slipping to a damaging defeat. More is expected of him as he regains his fitness.

Brahim Diaz – Real Madrid

Expected to be edged out of Real Madrid when Kylian Mbappe arrives in the summer, the winger is doing his level best to make himself a place at the club. Scored Madrid’s third in a 4-1 win over Osasuna on Saturday before being replaced with 18 minutes remaining.

His performance was overshadowed by that of Vini Jr, but this was an excellent display from the forward.

Martin Zubimendi – Real Sociedad

FootballTransfers has revealed that Arsenal are prepared to spend big to secure the services of midfielder Zubimendi, who turned in one of his best performances in some time as Real Sociedad beat Cadiz 2-0 at the weekend.

Without recording a goal or an assist, he was precise in his play, completing 84% of his passes – a team-high among midfield and attacking players.

Ousmane Diomande – Sporting CP

A very solid performance from Diomande against Boavista, even if his side failed to secure the clean sheet they would have wished for.

Posted 96% pass completion, two tackles won and a match-high three aerials won. Sebastian Coates might have performed slightly better than him, but this was another showing that suggests Diomande is ready for a step up.

READ MORE: Premier League top scorers 2023/24

Luca Netz – Borussia Monchengladbach

Did not have long enough to make an impact for Gladbach as they were held to a 1-1 draw against Heidenheim, playing just the final 14 minutes.

If anything, his performance off the bench was slightly disappointing. Brought in to make things happen, the left-back completed only 55% of his passes but his team-mate’s willingness to utilise him as an outlet – he touched the ball 18 times – shows the trust that they put in the 20-year-old.