For years, it was the defensive side of the game that was Arsenal’s biggest problem. They shipped goal after goal, game after game. It reached the point that the only time a win was guaranteed was if Arsenal were able to score two or three goals themselves. So when Mikel Arteta arrived, after the Arsenal transfer targets were secured, his goal was clear. Fix the constant leak.
Now, in his first full season, he has arguably taken a huge step forward in doing that. Last year, the Gunners conceded 48 goals, ten more than this season. Yet, fortune rarely favours those at the Emirates these days so, naturally, when one leak was fixed, the goals began to dry up at the other end.
Arteta’s job was never going to be easy, he knew a change of approach was needed at the back, so he made the transition. One guarantee he believed he had, however, was a free-flowing attack. As it turns out, the Arsenal attack is anything but.
Now, according to Mike McGrath of the Telegraph, Arsenal are setting their sights on offensive reinforcements this summer.
Arsenal Transfer Targets: Offensive Reinforcements the Priority
Arsenal Transfer Targets: Moussa Dembele Being Considered
According to Mike McGrath, among forward’s the Gunners are targeting this summer is Lyon forward Moussa Dembele. The Frenchman would cost around £30 million this summer, according to reports, and, looking at his track record, it could be a bargain deal.
The former Celtic man scored 24 goals for Lyon last season, including two against Manchester City to knock them out of the Champions League. And, yes, his career has somewhat stalled on loan at Atletico Madrid since, but he has shown his quality before.
At his best, Dembele almost guarantees 20 goals a season. If Arsenal pursue the deal and get the best out of him, it may well turn out to be the smartest business of the summer for £30 million.
Odsonne Edouard Also on the Shortlist
The Telegraph also reported that Celtic’s Odsonne Edouard is also on the Arsenal list. The Frenchman has outgrown the Scottish Premiership in truth and with Rangers likely to become more and more dominant, a Celtic exit may loom.
According to reports, teams could secure his signature for £15-20 million this summer. A price as cheap as that does not come around too often for a player who scores 20 plus goals a season. Between Dembele and Edouard, the decision may come down to the cost- especially after the pandemic.
Either way, offensive reinforcements seem to be the main transfer targets this summer.
Lacazette and Nketiah Futures Uncertain
The targeting of forwards comes as no surprise with the underperformance of the poor form of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang combining with the uncertain futures of both Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah.
A summer overhaul is needed in offence if Arteta is to make any significant progress next season and, naturally, that should start with the signing of a striker.
The manager recently stated: We have already had an incredible amount of changes at the club over the past year or so, more than ever. We are looking to improve and be much closer than where we are at the moment. In order to do that there are certain things that we have to improve.
“There are so many things to do because we already have a lot of players on loan and a lot of players with contracts still that we need to sort. It will depend on what happens with a lot of those players and what we are able to recruit to improve the team. That is going to determine where we are.”
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