The striker situation at Arsenal has been a true challenge for Mikel Arteta and his remaining fit players as the club have sadly been affected by the loss of both natural centre-forwards and both starting wide players. In their stead, the Gunners’ boss has trialled two different options.
Leandro Trossard was replaced by Mikel Merino at Leicester, coming on to score twice, but when starting the next two league matches was very ineffectual. He would score in the 7-1 win over PSV, latching on to what was one of many defensive mistakes by the home side.
Yet the final goal of the game raised eyebrows after Martin Odegaard played a gorgeously weighted ball through to a perfectly-timed run. The forward, or who at least looked like a forward at the time, saw off the challenging defender, and then, on his weaker right foot, slotted a perfect finish off the opposite post and past the PSV keeper, Walter Benitez.
That player was Riccardo Calafiori, an unlikely source for a goal of its type for some perhaps. However, those watching the Italian more often this season might not necessarily have been as shocked.
Scoring against Manchester City and Wolves with excellent strikes and nearly giving the Gunners what would have been a winning goal at Nottingham Forest, the former Bologna defender has made an impression. Now the question looms whether Arsenal’s £42million summer investment should start further up the field.
I asked Mikel Arteta after the match whether a moment like we saw in the Netherlands can make such an impression that it might make him think about changing a player’s role. He was quick to point out the volume of players currently playing in unorthodox or varied roles beyond just Calafiori.
“Well, there were a few players today. We had them ready to take initiative. When you come to this stage, you really have to play and love the game and take the initiative and go for it. And today, we have a full-back on Myles that puts a cross in for the opposite winger. You have Jurrien scoring as a header and as a full=back. And they have Ricci making a movement as a nine and scoring with the right foot. That's what I'm talking about, flow, courage and about playing the way we want to play.”
Naturally, it is highly unlikely we will see Calafiori up top on Sunday at Manchester United. However, the return leg against PSV could be the perfect time to throw-in a wildcard pick and just let it cook!
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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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