Arsenal are determined to sign a striker in January as they feel Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang nor Alexandre Lacazette is ‘up to the task’ of securing Champions League qualification.
That’s according to CBS, who note Mikel Arteta and Technical Director Edu are ‘desperate’ to sign a replacement this month. The Gunners chiefs are loath to leave the issue until the summer to resolve, with a Premier League top-four finish possibly achievable this season.
However, by moving in the winter market, Arsenal cannot sign some of the names the club have been tracking. Jonathan David, for example, has been on the north Londoners’ radar for some time. But LOSC Lille are unlikely to sell and no talks have, as of yet, taken place.
Arsenal are also yet to convince Fiorentina forward Dusan Vlahovic to move to the Emirates Stadium. Thus, Edu and Arteta have revived the Gunners’ interest in Alexander Isak of Real Sociedad. But The Athletic add they want to pay his La Liga side less than his release clause.
Arsenal feel Aubameyang, Lacazette are ‘not up to the task’
Arsenal want to sign a striker in the January transfer window as they have lost confidence in Aubameyang and Lacazette. Arteta and Edu have little faith in the pair scoring the goals needed to push the club into the top-four.
Burnley holding the Gunners to a goalless draw on Sunday has left the north Londoners in sixth-place after 21 games. They are also two-points behind Manchester United in fourth, but having played once less than Ralf Rangnick’s Red Devils.
However, Tottenham are only behind Arsenal in seventh on goal difference and also hold a game in hand on them. Spurs have kept a marginally tighter defensive unit with 24 goals conceded to 25, but have scored 26 to 33.
Arsenal’s 33 Premier League goals so far this season is the seventh-best haul in the division. Leicester in 10th have scored 34, behind each of the current top-five, including West Ham in fifth with 41.
Aubameyang has offered four of Arsenal’s goals – only Emile Smith Rowe (8) and Bukayo Saka (6) have more. But the Gabon forward has not featured since December 6, before he lost the captaincy over his latest disciplinary breach.
Lacazette, meanwhile, has scored three goals in 16 appearances, and only one came from open play. The Frenchman has found the net with one penalty and rammed home a close-range rebound from a late corner.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
