Mikel Arteta's long-running transfer conundrum is becoming an increasing problem for Arsenal as their season threatens to stall.
A widespread criticism of the Gunners is that their striker options are sub-optimal. Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are currently the two senior attackers available to Arteta, although both are struggling to convince.
Havertz has scored just seven goals this season, while Jesus has scored just three times in the Premier League. With Arsenal's ambitions to challenge for the title, those numbers are clearly not good enough.
The Gunners have long been linked with a move for a world-class striker. But Arteta has suffered two blows in the space of a week, shattering their hopes of landing another one this month.
Their main target has long been believed to be Newcastle's Alexander Isak. The Swedish striker has been a key figure for the Magpies this season and produced a top performance by scoring against the Gunners in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final on Tuesday.
That was the 25-year-old's 15th goal of the campaign, helping the Magpies recover from a difficult start and climb to fifth in the Premier League. Although Arsenal are interested, Newcastle are believed to have slapped a £150 million price tag on him.
Even if Arsenal can use the profit and sustainability rules to match that fee, Newcastle are unlikely to approve a sale. The Tynesiders are already under pressure from club icon Alan Shearer to resist the Gunners.
“No, is the answer,” Shearer told The Rest is Football. “Who are they going to bring in to come to Newcastle and do a similar job? We know the striker is the most important position.”
“He is one of the reasons why they are in fifth place and in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup. You could spend fifty to sixty million pounds on another striker, but who? What? Where. They are real hard to find.”
“So if you have a really good one why do you want to let him go at any price? If they have to sell for PSR reasons (profit and sustainability rules) there would be other players I would sell first before I buy Isak for £150m would sell.”
A secondary target was Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo, who has scored 13 goals in 20 Premier League games so far. But Bees boss Thomas Frank has already laughed off suggestions that Mbeumo could make a move this month.
When asked about rumors surrounding Mbeumo's future, Frank said: “In January? I'd say good luck. We love Bryan. He loves playing here. He's had a fantastic season so nothing will happen.”
Manchester United are now also monitoring the attacker's situation ahead of a planned move of their own. With both Isak and Mbeumo off the table this month, it appears Arsenal face a new problem.
Arteta will now have to decide whether his best plan of action is to wait for the summer to bring in a dream target, or to push for an immediate addition to his squad. Demands for someone to be appointed in January will only grow louder as Gary Neville has already outlined Arsenal's problems.
After the draw with Brighton, Neville said: 'Jesus, I saw him again last night, I really like Gabriel Jesus, he's got a lot of heart but he's everywhere but where you want him to be. Havertz is a bit the same, you really want them in that six meter box.
“It's a bit frustrating to watch them at times because I think they have something in them, the journey they are on with the manager. They will be happy today that Liverpool have dropped points and they are still there still in, but they are still there.” will have to improve enormously, I think.
“The problem is they just can't seem to achieve that kind of fluidity in the final third of the pitch. Liverpool have more energy, they have more threat up front and unless Arsenal sort that out and address that.” “Arsenal can win this competition but they have to get a deal done in January somehow.”
Comments