Arteta’s “nightmare” target is open to joining Arsenal

Because the cliche goes, ‘targets win video games, however defence wins titles’. Within the case of Arsenal, the Gunners boast a fairly imply defence it have to be stated, having conceded just 21 times in 23 Premier League video games to date.

It could possibly be argued then that the north Londoners are doing all the things proper to lastly finish that lengthy anticipate the title, however there stays that nagging feeling. That itch that may’t be scratched. The signing of a striker…

With Gabriel Jesus seemingly ruled out for the season, the Emirates outfit solely have Kai Havertz to name upon in that quantity 9 berth, with query marks nonetheless surrounding the German regardless of his 14 goals and assists in all competitions in 2024/25.

Signed initially to interchange Granit Xhaka within the left-eight berth, the previous Chelsea man is just not an orthodox quantity 9, however the hunt remains to be on to fill that longstanding void earlier than Monday’s deadline.

Arsenal’s seek for a striker

If current proof is something to go by, the Gunners will not panic. Certainly, it was round this time final yr that there have been calls to sign a certain Ivan Toney, but Mikel Arteta and co held agency, moderately than performing in desperation.

That stated, that need for a confirmed Premier League marksman has not abated it might appear, with studies earlier this week revealing that a £60m bid had been lodged for Aston Villa talisman, Ollie Watkins.

Whereas that provide was flatly rejected by the Midlands aspect, the Day by day Mail has reported that the Englishman – who’s a boyhood Arsenal fan – remains to be open to making the move to the Emirates earlier than the tip of the window, if an settlement will be reached.

As per the report, Arsenal are ‘now weighing up a second supply’ for the previous Brentford man, albeit with the state of affairs a fancy one amid Jhon Duran’s exit to Al Nassr.

Arsenal might land their subsequent Aubameyang

With Duran shifting on, all hope could also be misplaced for the Gunners, though amid speak that Marcus Rashford could possibly be set for a surprise switch to Villa Park, would possibly Arteta’s aspect nonetheless have an opportunity of snapping up Watkins?

There could also be a need to plump for a youthful, extra long-term goal to guide the road, but at 29, Watkins is a ready-made, plug-and-play possibility, who has confirmed himself within the Premier League for quite a lot of seasons now.

Since becoming a member of Villa in the summertime of 2020, the England worldwide has scored 69 top-flight goals, and registered an extra 31 assists, whereas scoring a minimum of ten targets in every of his 5 league campaigns on the membership.

Watkins vs Havertz – 24/25 PL document
*Stat (per sport)**	Watkins	Havertz
Video games	24	20
Objectives	10	8
Assists	5	2
Huge possibilities missed	19	14
Huge possibilities created	4	2
Key passes*	0.9	0.8
Cross accuracy*	78%	79%
Touches*	20.9	39.1
Whole duels gained*	37%	39%
Stats by way of Sofascore

The signing of such a constant goalscorer might evoke recollections of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s transfer to Arsenal again in January 2018, with the £56m signing having arrived on the peak of his powers from Borussia Dortmund.

The Gabonese marksman – who was 28 on the time, only a yr youthful than Watkins – made the swap after netting 141 goals in 213 games in Germany, supplying Arsene Wenger with a dependable and skilled quantity 9 to spearhead his assault.

Able to working centrally or off the left – like Watkins – Aubameyang went on to tear it up in an Arsenal shirt, bagging 92 targets in 163 video games in all competitions, earlier than departing for Barcelona after a fall out with Arteta.

Hopefully, Watkins would get pleasure from a far smoother trip in north London than his centre-forward counterpart, though he will surely mirror the now-veteran in being a confirmed possibility who might ship the products for a minimum of three or 4 seasons, if not the long run.

Sure, a younger, high-potential striker – within the mould of Benjamin Sesko – could be interesting, however Watkins, who Conor Coady hailed as a “nightmare to play against“, would absolutely be capable to slot in seamlessly.