Should Arsenal prioritize a top hitman or top Saka backup as our last signing?

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 21: New Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta (R) sits alongside Arsenal Technical Director Edu during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Arsenal FC at Goodison Park on December 21, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

David Raya and Riccardo Calafiori have reinforced the defence. Mikel Merino’s anticipated arrival from Real Sociedad is likely to bolster the midfielder. The next area to receive reinforcement must be the attack. Looking at what we can expect from the attack, I’m conflicted. Will it be a striker or a right winger (to deputise Saka)?

In the end, I don’t see Arsenal signing a a top striker AND a brilliant winger this summer; therefore, it may be down to just one of these two options:

1. A competitor to Bukayo Saka
2. An out and out striker

Which of the two, if signed, would you be most confident in Arsenal’s chances next season? I would go with a striker. The reason I won’t choose a Saka competitor is because Arteta has at least three players at the Emirates Stadium who he could deploy on the right wing, provided he doesn’t have to play Saka on the right wing every game. Hopefully Fabio Viera (who had an injury-ridden 2023–24 season), Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, and even Gabriel Martinelli can play there at a pinch.

Apart from Kai Havertz, can we ensure that Gabriel Jesus will be clinical when leading the attack? I doubt you can. So, if I had to choose between signing a striker and a winger, I’d go with the former. In fact, if I were calling the shots at the Emirates Stadium, I would prioritise bringing in Victor Osimhen or Viktor Gyokeres on board; these goal machines have the potential to bolster our offence. One of those strikers will not only push Havertz to his limits, but he will also be a reliable supply of goals.

What do you think must be our next priority after Merino?

daniel O


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18 Comments

  1. I expect Merino to be enticed at the opportunity to join us. His Euros QF heroics should tell him something. Sociedad President Aperribay even hinted on Merino’s potential exit this summer. I would call it the Basque connection if the lad from Pamplona joins Mikel’s project at Arsenal.

  2. A hitman,we have more than enough Bukayo Saka’s coverup.Martinnel can play there very well,Jesus,Ethan,Viera and even Ordegaad.We need a striker and top one.A striker of Gyokeres type.We missed a lot of chances last season.please tell Arteta to get us this guy

  3. As you said, we’ve got many players to be Saka’s backup, but we still haven’t got a Giroud type of player

    Osimhen is going to Chelsea or PSG, whereas Gyokeres’ hold-up play seems inconsistent and he will be very expensive

    I think Arteta will stick with Havertz, Jesus and Trossard this season, because Vlahovic and Sesko aren’t available yet

    1. Honestly ! We’ve got so many depth to backup saka but what we lack is a giroud A goal Morgan

    2. Gai, are you sure Osimehin is going to Chelsea? He is my country man and from what I heard he likes Arsenal because of Kanu Nwako and Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayo who once played for Arsenal as African players.

      Gyokeres hold up can’t be bad to have 15 assist last season. Although Osimehin holdup is fantastic and very good in the air. But Gyokeres will give you plenty goals.
      I heard Arsenal is highly interested in Gyokeres and Sporting are ready to reduce his release clause after discussing with his former club conventry. Anything is possible Gai.

  4. A top level striker, an understudy to Saka, and a couple midfielders. A keeper if Ramsdale leaves.
    Gyorkees or Osimhen, Merino, one of Ruiz/Fofana/de Jong/Kimmich, and a left footed RW.
    If we can do this then we’ve built a team worthy of a title, no more excuses 🙂

  5. Arteta said there will be no signing of Rice’s nature this window. So, Gyokeres or Osimhen are a doubt. Unless it was a smokescreen.

    I think we’ll get an 8, possibly Merino. And may be a versatile forward player who can rotate in multiple positions across the front three.

    But we might get surprised. But no 100-mil signing this window. I think Arteta will go for our youngsters, namely, Nwaneri, Myles, Salah, Heaven or Nichols as squad players, rather than buying squad players. The youth have shown they are dependable and have good mentality, even at their young age.

    We will get Merino I think and a forward that won’t cost above 50-60 mil.

  6. I believe that Sporting can be persuaded to sell Gyokeres for a fee in the region of 60m, in which case I would go for him as long as he’d be willing to come. And I don’t see why he wouldn’t.
    We need a striker who offers something different from the ones we have now, and I can’t find anyone who fits that bill better than Gyokeres.
    I can’t see how Arsenal would sell Nketiah (as seems likely now) and not sign a striker. That would definitely weeken the team overall.

  7. Like a few others, I go for a hitman first. Arsenal needs someone who can get 20+ goals a season and we all know, even if we don’t admit it, that neither Jesus nor Havertz is likely to do that for Arsenal.

    Arsenal’s top priority must be actually closing the gap with City in key areas, not just improving the overall team/squad from the last few seasons. I think we need a Haaland, well if not an exact copy which will be tricky, then the nearest we can get. A relentless striker who’ll bring in that goal tally across the season, season in and season out.

    1. Any suggestions? A name of someone who would be guaranteed upgrade on what we have, is willing to join and available for a reasonable price. Fans keep asking for this elite striker,but who?

      Personally,the only guaranteed upgrade I can think of is Alexander Isaak but we all know he’s not coming. He’s not available. Instead of risking on a striker who may not work out,I would probably wait for Isaak or Sesko.

  8. we just have to be realistic here. We need a very reliable goal scorer in the mould of Halland but we all know there`s only 1 Halland. That`s then down to our stle of play. Will Osimhen fit into our style and will Gyokeres fit in?
    One thing I`m sure of is for Harvertz to be at least Ok in our squad,an Osimhen/GYokeres/iSAAK will definitely be an upgrade.

  9. If the rumours are true that Julian Alvarez is available, then he should be prioritised above all else. Zinchenko is perfectly adequate to play alongside Declan Rice, so we could forego the midfield addition if it meant we could get Alvarez. Whether City would sell him to their nearest rival is another matter. Sadly, you know if it were the other way around then it would be a foregone conclusion that the player would move to a rival.

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