It's been an unusual season for Arsenal this year.
It has felt as if Mikel Arteta's side have simply gone from one disaster to another, and yet, as things stand, they look set for a second-place finish in the Premier League and almost made it to the final of the Champions League.
However, while challenging is nice, the North Londoners have now done that for three campaigns on the bounce, and fans are understandably demanding that they get across that finishing line next season.
mikel-arteta-arsenal-premier-league
Fortunately, the board seem intent on making the signings to help them do that this summer, with recent reports now linking the club to a prolific goalscorer who could be an ideal Viktor Gyokeres alternative and a massive Kai Havertz upgrade.
Arsenal's striker search
While Arsenal have been linked with a host of sensational strikers in recent weeks and months, perhaps the most significant have been to Sporting CP star Gyokeres.
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The Swedish international was touted for a move to North London last summer, and now, in recent weeks, it appears as if new Sporting Director Andrea Berta has really stepped up the club's pursuit of the former Coventry City man.
In fact, reports from the last week or so have gone as far as claiming that the player has already agreed terms with the Gunners, while others have asserted that the North Londoners have submitted a bid in the region of £63m.
However, for all the goals Gyokeres has scored this season - 53 in all competitions - Arteta and Co might prefer to sign someone who could be even more of a sure thing, someone Premier League-proven, someone like Bryan Mbeumo.
Yes, according to a recent report from GIVEMESPORT, Arsenal have an 'active interest' in the Brentford star, whose raw output, versatility and underlying numbers have left the recruitment staff impressed.
Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo celebrates after the match
However, given the Cameroon international's importance to the Bees and the interest from other sides like Nottingham Forest, Manchester United and Newcastle United, he wouldn't come cheap, with the West Londoners expected to demand around £60m for his services this summer.
It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Mbeumo's sensational ability, it's worth pursuing, especially since he could be an ideal Havertz upgrade.
How Mbeumo compares to Havertz
So, the first to say is that while Mbeumo has primarily played off the right for Brentford, he's no stranger to playing down the middle either, making 42 appearances as a second striker and 32 as a centre-forward.
Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo reacts
Therefore, with that in mind and the fact that Bukayo Saka is near-enough undroppable when fit, it seems likely that Arsenal would sign the Bees ace primarily with the intention of starting him up top, in turn placing him up against Havertz for game time.
With that said, who comes out on top between the two attackers?
Well, when it comes to their raw output, which is, of course, what matters more than anything else for a striker, it's the "unplayable" Cameroonian, by Brentford boss Thomas Frank, who comes out miles ahead.
For example, so far this season, he has scored 19 goals and provided nine assists in just 41 appearances, totalling 3487 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.46 games, or every 124.53 minutes.
In contrast, the Gunners' number 29 has scored 15 goals and provided five assists in 35 appearances, totalling 2790 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.75 games, or every 139.5 minutes.
Unfortunately for the former Chelsea ace, the one-sided nature of this comparison only continues when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.
Mbeumo vs Havertz
Statistics per 90
Goals + Assists
Progressive Passes
Progressive Carries
Shots
Shot on Target
Key Passes
Passes into the Penalty Area
Passes into the Final Third
Shot-Creating Actions
Goal-Creating Actions
Successful Take-Ons
Ball Recoveries
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 Season
For example, the "monster" forward, as dubbed by presenter Beth Tucker, comes out on top in the majority of relevant metrics, such as goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries shot and goal-creating actions, key passes, passes into the final third and penalty area, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.
Ultimately, while he might not be the biggest name around, Mbeumo has shown this season that he has what it takes to score bags and bags of goals in the Premier League, and therefore, Arsenal should sign him, even if it would be bad news for Havertz.
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