By all accounts, Arsenal will sign a new number nine this summer to compete with both Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus next season.
Mikel Arteta has only signed two strikers since he took the Arsenal job in 2019 — he’s more versed in upgrading his defence.
However, the time has finally come for the Gunners to invest in a new centre-forward.
Arsenal wanted to sell Jesus this summer were it not for his injury, and in that scenario Andrea Berta might have even recruited two strikers in one summer.
However, the Brazilian is staying put for now and it’ll just be one striker coming in, who will perhaps take the famous #14 shirt, which is currently vacant.
That being said, TBR Football’s writers have shared which striker they think Arsenal should be welcoming to London Colney for a medical this summer.
Which striker should Mikel Arteta sign this summer?
Marcus Rashford – Billy Meyers
After Aston Villa failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, their £40m option to buy Rashford looks likely to be ignored due to PSR concerns, although other clubs can trigger it.
Of course, Gyokeres is a temptation for Arsenal after scoring 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting CP, but Darwin Nunez has already shown how tough it can be to replicate Primeira Liga success in the Premier League.
The Swede is also set to cost over £20m more than Rashford would at £40m, and after the England international showed signs of a resurgence at Villa Park, Arteta should trust his coaching ability enough to believe he can fix the forward at Arsenal.
Arsenal should act fast and sign Rashford.
Photo by Molly Darlington/Copa/Getty Images
Photo by Molly Darlington/Copa/Getty Images
Viktor Gyokeres – Srinivas Sadhanand
With 54 goals to his name in all competitions this season, Gyokeres has cemented his status as one of the most prolific goalscorers in Europe.
But in addition to solving Arsenal’s need to sign a lethal marksman, Gyokeres would also help Arteta’s side become a much better side on the break – he’s scored plenty of his goals on the counter-attack for Sporting CP.
One of the Gunners’ biggest weaknesses as an attacking side is when they are on the break but the Swede’s arrival would add a much-needed dynamic to the team while his goal record speaks for itself.
With Gyokeres also happy to be stationed inside the box, he is the profile of a striker that Arsenal have lacked since Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang.
Marcus Thuram – Jamie Brown
Bit of an outside shout but Arsenal should be testing the waters for Thuram in the event that Inter Milan lose the UCL final to PSG.
The striker also shares a close bond with Thierry Henry which could work in their favour.
But most importantly, the Gunners need a guaranteed goal scorer and the Frenchman has proven himself on the big stage with an impressive goal scoring record in Serie A and the UCL.
Gyokeres has a superb record in Portugal but how that translates to the Premier League makes any deal a risk.
Elsewhere, Benjamin Sesko is a top young talent but there appear to be doubts as to whether he is ready to make that jump.
Arsenal have watched Thuram this season, as per TBR Football, and now need to firm up their interest in the striker.
Andrea Berta told to sign Alexander Isak if he’s serious
Alexander Isak – Charles Jones
He’s simply the best striker who could possibly be on the market this summer. If Arsenal want to be serious contenders this is the player to get. It’ll be expensive, but you get what you pay for.
Isak is exactly the type of player Manchester City, Chelsea or Manchester United would’ve signed when they needed a striker to reach the next level in years gone by.
Do whatever you can to raise the funds and just get it done.
Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Benjamin Sesko – Giuseppe Labellarte
The Slovenia international strikes the right balance between quality, potential, Premier League suitability, and price.
He’s impressed at the highest level – indeed, Sesko has earned comparisons with Erling Haaland – and, at 21 years of age, is still a long way from hitting his prime.
He’s a tall forward who’d be a great focal point up front and his physicality should see him cope with all that Premier League opponents have to throw at him.
Furthermore, Sesko’s release clause is relatively affordable for Arsenal, compared to someone like Isak, who’d easily command a £100m-plus fee.