Now Vlahovic is heading elsewhere, which other strikers should Arsenal sign?

Dusan Vlahovic

Now Vlahovic is heading elsewhere, which other strikers should Arsenal sign?

By Jack Lacey-Hatton
An Arsenal target for so long, Dusan Vlahovic agreeing a move to Juventus is tough news to take.
The Serbian goal machine would have undoubtedly transformed the Arsenal frontline overnight and helped manager Mikel Arteta improve his sides’ goal threat.
Instead, he has agreed a move to the Old Lady. 
But with the club hierarchy still desperate to shift Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of North London, which other strikers should the Gunners be looking at?
Here is a shortlist of three forwards that should be on the recruitment teams’ radar as the January transfer window nears a conclusion.
 

Victor Osimhen

Napoli star Victor Osimhen should be the first player Arsenal turn towards after the failure to sign Vlahovic.
Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy, have reported the Nigeria international has been priced at £58m (€70m), but this would be worth every penny if he can add 8-10 goals between now and the end of the season.
The 23-year-old began his career at Wolfsburg and has since scored goals in both France’s Ligue 1 (with Lille) and Italy’s Serie A.
He has hit nine goals in just 16 appearances so far in 2021-22 and has the pace and power needed to trouble Premier League defences.
Osimhen’s athletic nature would also help give Arsenal a real outlet when having to defend deeply against the league’s top sides, something Aubameyang has struggled to do in recent years.
He would be a shrewd buy, and technical director Edu and Arteta should do everything possible to make this deal happen.
 

Ollie Watkins

English, young and a talented goalscorer, Watkins ticks so many boxes it’s hard to see why Arsenal haven’t made a serious play for him.
Aston Villa won’t give him up easily, but as we saw with the Jack Grealish sale last summer, every player has their price at Villa Park.
Players with his movement in transition are hard to come by and 14 top-flight goals last season shows he can cut it in the Premier League.
Ollie Watkins
Watkins is also a highly-skilled dribbler, which makes him more of a ‘like-for-like’ replacement for Aubameyang.
He feels destined to one day play European football, so why shouldn’t that be at the Emirates?
 

Dominic Calvert-Lewin 

He maybe another England international and perhaps this is another transfer that could prove tricky to strike in January.
But Dominic Calvert Lewin’s arrival would instantly lift the mood around the Emirates stadium.
The Yorkshireman would bring something Arsenal’s forward-line has been missing since Olivier Giroud was somehow allowed to leave for Chelsea – physicality. 
DCL brings a presence that few target men in English football can rival, but is still nimble enough around the penalty area with a poacher's instinct. 
Everton’s Player of the Year winner last season, the 24-year-old is contracted to the Toffees until 2025 so won’t be easy to prize away.
But he is exactly the type of striker Arsenal need. Strong, athletic, technically gifted but offering a real threat in the air.
Even if he costs a small fortune, this is a signing that could help transform the team.
 

Verdict 

All three would be excellent additions after missing out on Vlahovic.
But with the January window a difficult time to do business, Osimhen is probably the simplest transfer to pull off.
Therefore, he should be number one on Arsenal’s list for a new goalscorer. 

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