Gabriel Jesus sent a clear message to Mikel Arteta and the Arsenal fans on Wednesday night that he is here to stay and ready to fix the Gunners' problems up front.
Prior to Wednesday night's Carabao Cup quarter-final clash with Crystal Palace, the Brazilian had scored just once this season. Now he has four to his name following a hat-trick in the cup clash.
Arsenal were in the market for a forward in the summer, although they made the decision to go for a player who could play across the front-line rather than an out-and-out striker. Raheem Sterling joined on deadline day on loan from Chelsea, although that deal has not worked out thus far.
It is unlikely Arsenal will make a move for a forward in the January transfer window, but there is a feeling that will change next summer. Mail Online report that Arsenal plan to have a new striker in place before the start of the 2025/26 season and football.london understands a new forward remains one of the club's key transfer priorities, despite Jesus' treble.
Plenty of names have been in the frame in the past six to 12 months and football.london takes a look at the key factors surrounding each name...
Viktor Gyokeres
Age: 26
Top-5 European Leagues experience: None
Price tag: £63m
Injury record: Clear
Has 27 goals this season but not in one of the so-called big European leagues. Was prolific in the Portuguese league last season too. Comes with a big price tag and is untested at the very highest level bar a handful of Champions League matches.
Alexander Isak
Age: 25
Top-5 European Leagues experience: One season with Borussia Dortmund, three seasons with Real Betis, three seasons with Newcastle
Price tag: £100m
Injury record: Six separate injuries in the past four years - 43 games missed
Has a wealth of Premier League experience already under his belt and has shown he can score goals in the English top flight. Injuries over time are an issue, as is the huge price tag that Newcastle will demand.
Victor Osimhen
Age: 25
Top-5 European Leagues experience: One season with Lille, four seasons with Napoli
Price tag: £62m
Injury record: 14 separate injuries in the past four years - 48 games missed
Has constantly been linked with the Premier League and his price tag will decrease in the summer. Has shown he can score goals at the very highest level, but again has an injury record that could force Arsenal to think again.
Dusan Vlahovic
Age: 24
Top-5 European Leagues experience: Three seasons with Fiorentina, three seasons with Juventus
Price tag: £51.6m
Injury record: 11 separate injuries in the past four years - 26 games missed
Has plenty of time on his side and has already racked up a good base of experience at the highest level. Relatively cheap given his age and scoring record, with 12 goals in 20 games already this season.
Benjamin Sesko
Age: 21
Top-5 European Leagues experience: Two seasons with Red Bull Leipzig
Price tag: £66m
Injury record: Three separate injuries in the past four years - 13 games missed
The one Arsenal really wanted to sign last summer until he signed a new contract to stay with RB Leipzig. Has ten goals in 22 games for the German side and is the youngest of the lot, suggesting he has much more potential to get even better.
Jonathan David
Age: 24
Top-5 European Leagues experience: Five seasons with Lille
Price tag: Free (out of contract in the summer)
Injury record: One injury in the past four years - 1 game missed
Probably has everything you would look for - the price, the good injury record and age on his side. Only tested in the french league, but is the top scorer in Ligu Un this season. Was the second-top scorer last season and the third top scorer the season before that.
Conclusion
If you're buying raw potential, you probably go for Benjamin Sesko, but when it comes to price and age, it's Jonathan David. Whether he can cut it at the very highest level is the only question mark around him, with all his career spent in France thus far.
You'd probably rule out Osimhen and Isak due to price and injury records, but Vlahovic could be one Arsenal return to look at given he could be available for around £50million.
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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