Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has reportedly pinpointed the club’s top target for the striker position this summer as they look to solve their long-standing issues up front. The club has been searching for a marquee striker to bolster their attacking options, with hopes of finally ending their 21-year wait for a Premier League title. The striker position has been a source of frustration for the Gunners, with injuries and inconsistency plaguing both Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus throughout the season.
Both Havertz and Jesus are set to miss the remainder of the current campaign due to separate injuries, leaving Arteta with limited options in the attacking department. The absence of both players has significantly impacted Arsenal’s offensive output, with Havertz having scored just nine goals in the league and Jesus only three, a record that has been far below the standard required for a team aiming for the title.
In response to this crisis, Arteta has turned to midfielder Mikel Merino, who has been deployed in a more forward role and has managed to net four goals since the shift. This brings his total to six goals for the season, but despite his contribution, the lack of a proven striker has made it clear that Arsenal needs a more consistent source of goals if they are to mount a serious title challenge.
With their chances of winning the league this season slipping, and Arsenal trailing Liverpool in the race, Arteta and the club are eager to strengthen their attacking options ahead of the next campaign. This marks the third consecutive season that Arsenal has fallen short in their pursuit of the Premier League title, having lost out to Manchester City in the previous two seasons.
Arsenal has reportedly set their sights on Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres, who currently plays for Sporting CP in Portugal. Gyokeres has been in sensational form this season, already matching his tally from the previous campaign with 43 goals in 42 appearances across all competitions. His clinical finishing and ability to find the back of the net consistently make him an ideal candidate to fill Arsenal’s striking void.
The Gunners have been long-time admirers of Gyokeres, and this season his impressive performances have only increased their interest in bringing him to the Premier League. His goal-scoring instincts could provide the spark Arsenal needs to finally secure the elusive league title. Moreover, Gyokeres’ style of play seems well-suited to Arteta’s tactical setup, with his movement, pace, and finishing ability offering a direct solution to Arsenal’s striking woes.
In their pursuit of Gyokeres, Arsenal is said to have abandoned their interest in another highly-rated striker, Newcastle’s Alexander Isak. Isak had been considered another potential solution to their attacking struggles, but it seems that the club has shifted its focus towards the Swedish international from Sporting CP.
The decision to prioritize Gyokeres comes at a crucial time for Arsenal, as they look to address the striker issue once and for all. Despite the setbacks of the current season, the club’s management remains determined to make the necessary signings to strengthen the squad and ensure that they can challenge for the Premier League title once again in the coming years. With the addition of a proven goal-scorer like Gyokeres, Arsenal could finally have the missing piece of the puzzle to complete their title ambitions.
