#39 - 3 Strikers Arsenal should explore signing this summer
Nketiah set to leave? Arsenal may need another centre-forward, here's three of my favourite options that would fit well
Welcome back! The transfer window is in full swing and with Eddie Nketiah seemingly closing in on a move to Marseille, many are wondering if Arsenal will dip into the market for another striker.
Yes, Kai Havertz may now be considered predominantly a number 9, but beyond an injury-prone Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal would have no obvious striker in the squad if Eddie left. In the five sub-era, that feels a little light. So who could Arsenal look to sign?
The first thing to establish is what kind of striker Arsenal would be after. It was initially reported they wanted a younger player they could develop.
About a month ago, I wrote about three young striker alternatives to Benjamin Sesko. One of those was Joshua Zirkzee, who has since joined Manchester United. The others, Brian Brobbey and Santiago Gimenez are far from the finished article.
After we see the impact of Nicolas Fulkrug coming on late for Havertz in the Euros, many are asking Arsenal to secure the signing of a striker with a different kind of skillset. We have Jesus, but he may now be considered more of a wide option and is certainly not a focal point in attack.
Given the age profile we tend to go for (early prime) and the qualities we commonly look for (progressive carriers), I’ve identified three players I think would be suitable players for Arsenal to look at, if they did sign a striker this summer.
Victor Boniface
One of many Bayer Leverkusen players to flourish this season is Nigerian forward Victor Boniface.
Despite some injury struggles, he significantly contributed to Leverkusen's title, scoring 14 and assisting 8 in his 23 appearances. Standing at 6ft 3', Boniface is a focal point in attack that can bring others into the game as highlighted in his impressive assist stats and the fact he receives 8.5 progressive passes per game (90th percentile).
He only joined Leverkusen last summer, so it would be a bit of a risk given he's not completely proven at the highest level yet and the transition from Bundesliga to Premier League often doesn't go as planned.
Another strong aspect of Boniface's game is his ability to dribble. In Calafiori, Arsenal are set to sign another player who is strong and tall but can carry the ball. This is a common set of attributes in recent Arsenal signings. Boniface makes a massive 2.81 progressive carries per game (91st percentile), 1.54 of those into the penalty area.
Watch his electric start to last seasons Bundesliga with all his goals and assists up to December last season in the video below. It highlights his ability to post up as a real frontman and this would give Arsenal something different.
He's also powerful in the air, winning 59.3% of his aerial duels, which ranks as 96th percentile compared to other forwards.
These are small sample sizes, but Boniface is 23 years old and looks to have several of the key qualities Mikel Arteta and Arsenal seek in their new signings.
Lois Openda
Another Bundesliga rising star, Lois Openda has been a player I’ve admired since his time in Ligue 1.
RB Leipzig, often savvy in the transfer market, secured Openda last summer for a fee of around £40million. He again is the natural age profile of recent Arsenal signings (24). Very different from Boniface in build, Openda is a player with deceptive strength, but also the pace and dribbling ability to draw lots of fouls.
What I like about Openda is his ability to play wide and as a centre-forward. Signing him would give Arsenal some tactical flexibility and cover in a few areas.
Like Boniface, he's been a goal machine over the last year, netting 0.64 non-penalty goals per 90.
Watch all of Openda's Bundesliga goals this season. What stands out is his magnificent positioning. That's backed up in the stats too, he racks up a lot of expected goals, so his numbers certainly aren't a flash in the pan.
Arsenal lack sharp-shooters in their squad, with Leandro Trossard standing out on that front. Openda is a deadly finisher, and very accurate with his strikes. His 1.86 shots on target per game rank in the 97th percentile.
Like Boniface, he's a great carrier of the ball too, with 1.41 into the penalty area and 2.8 progressive carries per game.
Matheus Cunha
This one may divide opinion. I have been a big fan of Cunha since his time in the Bundesliga. His move to Atletico Madrid, often a graveyard for attackers, was a setback, but he has started to show his quality for Wolves over the last year.
He’s only 25, so still fits in that early-prime category and he’s reported to earn just £60,000 per week at Wolves. Arsenal could double his salary and still consider him a rotational player in the squad hierarchy. The fee to Wolves wouldn't be cheap, though.
Cunha is a fantastic link forward, perhaps more in the build of his compatriot Gabriel Jesus. He makes 25 passes per game which is 89th percentile for strikers and does that in a midtable Wolves side.
Like Jesus, he's aggressive out of possession, making 1.59 tackles and interceptions per game (89th percentile). He'd allow Arsenal to press high and could perform this task from a wide or central position.
In certain game scenarios, I feel he could play in that ‘left 8’ role too. He has the progressive passing, pressing and general game intelligence to play this role as more of a second striker when the game state dictates the need for that.
Unlike the others, he’s Premier League proven and that too has been a common factor in many of Mikel’s signings.
What do you think? Do we need another striker if Eddie goes? I think we probably at least need somebody who is capable of playing in that role.
Much depends also on what we do in midfield. For example if we were to sign Eberechi Eze, he could play wide, allowing us to go for an out-and-out #9 like Boniface.
If we go for Mikel Merino as our number 8, a forward like Cunha or Openda could make more sense, given their ability to play as a wide forward.
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