Come July 1st, Arsenal will not have a single first-team striker on their books.
Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are due to become free-agents and former club Lyon have made no secret of their desire to bring the former back to his old stomping ground.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, meanwhile, has wasted little showing Mikel Arteta what he’s missing over in Barcelona. He recently became the first player in the 21st Century to score hat-tricks in La Liga, the Premier League, the Bundesliga and Ligue 1.
Finding a new number nine capable of emulating Aubameyang’s goal-laden impact in North London will be easier said than done. Especially with their number one target, Dusan Vlahovic, opting to inherit Cristiano Ronaldo’s number seven shirt at Juventus instead.
But while there is not exactly a bucketload of world-class centre-forwards to pick from, that doesn’t mean Aubameyang is irreplaceable.
Here are three realistic striker targets Arsenal could – or maybe should – make a move for this summer.
Jonathan David
In December, the Canadian’s agent insisted that 2021/22 will be his ‘last season’ at Lille. Like Nicolas Pepe and Gabriel Magalhaes before him, David arrived at the Stade Pierre Mauroy hoping to 1) develop his talents in a major European league, 2) enhance his reputation and 3) earn himself a big-money move higher up the footballing ladder.
Scoring 29 goals in two seasons, and firing Lille to their first Ligue 1 title in a decade, David can certainly cross targets one and two of his tick-list.
According to Madrid-based publication Defensa Central, Arsenal are currently the frontrunners for David’s signature. He’ll cost somewhere in the region of £50 million. Hardly the sort of cash you’ll find down the back of the sofa. But a lot cheaper than, say, Everton will demand for Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The presence of Pepe and Gabriel at the Emirates could work in Arsenal’s favour too.
Emmanuel Dennis
After Dennis tore Manchester United’s ramshackle defence apart in the Autumn, Dennis’ representative admitted that Arsenal ‘were interested’ in the Nigeria international before he swapped Club Brugge for Watford.
Now proving himself amongst the hustle and bustle of the Premier League, it won’t be a surprise if the Gunners come knocking again. Tricky, skilful and a ferocious finisher, Dennis shares a few similarities with Aubameyang.
Especially when you consider that he is at his most effective when drifting in from the left-hand side.
He’s scored nine goals and set up five more for a relegation-bound Watford.
Did we mention David is also a boyhood Arsenal fan?
Raul de Tomas
Clearly, Arteta wants more from his centre-forward than just goals. There’s a reason why the Arsenal boss often fielded Alexandre Lacazette through the middle, while shunting Aubameyang out to the flanks.
Spain international Raul de Tomas, then, may be a striker more in-line with Arteta’s tactical blueprint. Blessed with a relentless work-ethic, the ability to press from the front and eye-catching hold-up play, only Karim Benzema has scored more La Liga goals this season than the Espanyol talisman (13).
Espanyol’s director admitted that Arsenal enquired about De Tomas in January.
Given the lack of other top-level suitors, the path looks clear should Arsenal opt to make another move this summer.
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