Since Mikel Arteta joined Arsenal again in 2019, they’ve struggled to discover a constant quantity 9 to reinforce the aspect. This can be a stunning assertion, given the Gunners are the main scorers within the Premier League with 85 as per Sofascore, however many consider they’re inconsistent in entrance of objective.
Simply this season alone, Arteta has performed Gabriel Jesus up entrance, and extra just lately, Kai Havertz, who’s in excellent type. The German has scored 11 objectives and has registered six assists, the third-best return of his profession.
Within the Spaniard’s time as supervisor on the Emirates Stadium, he has additionally used the likes of Alexander Laczaette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, in addition to Eddie Nketiah, who continues to be on the membership, though has performed a sporadic function this season.
Nonetheless, based on rumours, the Gunners are nonetheless trying to land their dream signing at centre-forward, and will nicely make a transfer for certainly one of Europe’s deadliest marksmen this summer season, who has acquired comparability to a former Arsenal striker.
Arsenal’s striker shortlist
The participant in query right here is Juventus and Serbia worldwide Dusan Vlahovic. There are experiences to recommend that the Gunners are desirous about signing the previous Fiorentina man this summer season.
In response to GiveMeSport, Arsenal are going to “pounce” ought to Vlahovic fail to agree a brand new cope with the Turin aspect. The Serbian worldwide, who has 13 objectives in 25 video games for his nation, might be accessible for £55m.
That is actually a superb worth from an Arsenal perspective. In response to CIES Soccer Observatory, Vlahovic is presently valued at £68m, that means he might be attainable for £13m lower than his present worth.
How Dusan Vlahovic would enhance Arsenal
Soccer analyst Ben Mattinson as soon as in contrast Vlahovic to former Arsenal striker Robin van Persie on social media, discussing lots of their comparable attributes earlier than explaining the Serb is his “desire” for Arsenal to signal. It’s actually straightforward to stylistically see these comparisons.
Vlahovic has an excellent means to attain a wide range of objectives, simply as Van Persie did. He has a “killer left foot”, as Mattinson put it, together with his ball-striking means notably protruding. Ring any bells?
Just like the Dutchman, the Juve ahead is able to making intelligent runs behind an opposition defence, is a good finisher within the field. Additionally boasting great means within the air, he’s the entire package deal.
There may be an argument to be made that claims Vlahovic has not hit the heights anticipated of him thus far in Turin. With that being mentioned, the 40 objectives he has scored in 96 video games have come at a superb fee and through a rebuilding part for Juve. It’s truthful to chop him some slack.
This season, Vlahovic is the second-top scorer in Serie A, with 16 objectives in 29 video games. He’s bettered solely by Lautaro Martinez, who leads the way in which with an unbelievable 23 objectives in 30 video games for Scudetto-winning Inter.
The 24-year-old has the uncanny means to make one thing out of nothing. In response to Fbref, he averages 0.61 shot-creating actions which have led to a different shot per 90 minutes, putting him within the prime 3%, and 0.13 goal-creating actions which have led to a objective per 90 minutes, putting him within the prime 13%.
That is actually helped by the sheer quantity of photographs he has per 90 minutes. In Serie A this time period, he averages 4.34 photographs and 1.43 photographs heading in the right direction per 90 minutes, which rank him within the prime 3% and eight% respectively.
A key function of Vlahovic’s sport is his link-up play. The Serbian could be very sturdy and may protect the ball from his opponents, capable of drop deep and obtain the ball together with his again to objective, earlier than discovering the runs of teammates in behind. Thus, he would absolutely hyperlink up nicely with the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
Curiously, within the marketing campaign when the 2 gamers turned 24 of their respective careers, each Vlahiovc and Van Persie have an analogous minutes-per-goal ratio. Vlahovic averages one objective each 130 minutes this season in Serie A, while the previous Netherlands worldwide averaged one objective each 150 minutes within the Premier League in 2007/08. Nonetheless, it’s price noting Van Persie missed 13 video games for membership and nation that time period via damage, and nonetheless scored seven objectives in simply 15 league video games.
Vlahovic may nicely be the person Arsenal goal so as to add further firepower up entrance. He has had an outstanding season and is particularly similar to a former Gunner’s centre ahead in Van Persie.
Ought to Arteta determine to go forward and do a deal for him, it may show to be the signing Arsenal want to present them momentum to win the Premier League.
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