If it wasn’t already evident, Saturday’s 1-1 draw away to Everton doubtlessly proved the ultimate nail within the coffin for Arsenal‘s title hopes, with the Gunners slipping to their eleventh Premier League draw of the marketing campaign at Goodison Park.
With the hole now at 11 factors – and with leaders Liverpool in motion on Sunday afternoon – all hope seems to be to be misplaced for Mikel Arteta‘s facet. All the time the bridesmaid, by no means the bride.
The north Londoners will rightly level to additional controversy surrounding officiating following the weird resolution to penalise Myles Lewis-Skelly for a foul on Jack Harrison, though the injury-hit guests might be ruing their failure to kill the sport off as soon as once more.
Certainly, as famous by Opta, the journey to Merseyside represented the seventh time this season that Arteta’s males have been drawn a sport regardless of taking the lead – essentially the most of any staff within the division – with even the return of Bukayo Saka failing to offer the specified impact on this event.
The Emirates outfit will level to the absence of Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz amid these goalscoring woes, albeit with the stricken pair having scored simply 12 league objectives between them this time period, it’s evident {that a} new centre-forward stays the precedence this summer time.
Newest on Arsenal’s seek for a striker
The hope might be that signing a striker will show the distinction for the Gunners subsequent time period, albeit it isn’t assured that such a transfer will assist to finish the prolonged watch for league glory, with Liverpool, for example, wanting set to romp to glory regardless of missing a prolific, constant quantity 9.
That mentioned, having failed so as to add a brand new marksman for the reason that signing of Jesus again in the summertime of 2022, the putting berth stays the main focus this summer time, with rumours already rife concerning a transfer for Sporting CP sensation, Viktor Gyokeres.
The towering Swede is not the one determine on Arsenal’s shortlist, nonetheless, with Anfield Watch reporting that the north Londoners are among the many golf equipment exhibiting an curiosity in Eintracht Frankfurt starlet, Hugo Ekitike.
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As per the report, whereas it’s Liverpool who’re engaged on a deal for the 22-year-old, each the Gunners and Manchester United have additionally held talks with the Frenchman’s representatives, with these negotiations mentioned to have been ‘optimistic’.
As such, the suggestion is that every one three Premier League sides might be battling for the in-form striker’s signature this summer time, with Frankfurt mentioned to be keen to money in for a price of round £68m.
If Arsenal are to win that race over the approaching months, there would definitely be shades of Nicolas Anelka about that thrilling deal.
Why Arsenal could possibly be focusing on the following Anelka
It’s onerous to disregard Thierry Henry when discussing French strikers who ripped up in north London, but earlier than the membership’s file scorer, there was Anelka, with the now-retired marksman arriving as a 17-year-old again in 1997, earlier than happening to win the PFA Younger Participant of the 12 months award in that double-winning marketing campaign.
Whereas far youthful than Ekitike at present is, Anelka mirrors his compatriot in having been schooled by Paris Saint-Germain for a time, with the ex-Chelsea man rising up by means of the membership’s youth ranks earlier than making his first-team debut for the Ligue 1 facet in 1996.
As for Ekitike, the 6 foot 3 ace began life on the books at Reims, albeit earlier than then transferring to PSG on an preliminary mortgage deal in 2022, the place he scored simply 4 occasions in 33 video games in all competitions.
|
Ekitike’s Bundesliga file – 24/25 |
|
|---|---|
|
Stat (*per sport) |
Report |
|
Video games |
27 |
|
Objectives |
13 |
|
Scoring frequency |
159mins |
|
Massive possibilities missed |
12 |
|
Assists |
4 |
|
Massive possibilities created |
7 |
|
Key passes* |
1.4 |
|
Go accuracy* |
77% |
|
Profitable dribbles* |
1.6 |
It has taken a transfer to Germany for the teen to ignite his profession, though on current proof, he’s proving himself to be “one of many strikers on the market“, within the phrases of analyst Ben Mattinson, with Ekitike merely “able to explode”.
In 56 video games for the Bundesliga facet, Ekitike has netted 23 objectives and registered an additional ten assists, mirroring Anelka in his capability to function as an out and out centre-forward, or in a left-wing berth.
Like Anelka on the time – who Arsene Wenger described as his “greatest discover” throughout his early years at Highbury – the Frankfurt talisman hasn’t but reached the standing of a family title, though with 19 objectives to his title this season, he actually will do quickly.
Not solely a scientific finisher, what additionally units Ekitike aside is his silky capability in possession, as proven by the actual fact he ranks among the many prime 9% of European strikers for progressive carries, in addition to within the prime 3% for profitable take-ons per 90.
A profitable take-on is recorded when a participant beats their opponent by instantly carrying the ball previous them whereas retaining possession.
Like Anelka – who former teammate Martin Keown claimed might “destroy defences” – the previous Reims man boasts that excellent mix of pace and trickery, making him a daunting prospect on the prime finish of the pitch.
Whereas at £68m, Ekitike actually will not come low cost, he might symbolize the proper, long-term funding for Arteta and co – so long as he sticks round for longer than Anelka did, that’s.
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The Gunners suppose he is “wonderful worth”.
