Free-agent striker Ze Luis has joined Saudi Arabian strugglers Al-Taawon after being offered to Premier League giants Arsenal, as reported by the club’s Twitter page.
Mikel Arteta will know, when Arsenal tore up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s contract and let their most reliable goalscorer join Barcelona on a free transfer, that such a decision could prove to be a defining moment in his Gunners tenure.
If Arteta leads Arsenal back to the promised land of the Champions League, he will be showered with justified praise. A manager sticking to his principles and rewarded for doing so.
But should Arsenal fall short – a lack of firepower costing them a place at Europe’s top table – then Arteta will have nowhere to go but to fall on his own sword.
Arsenal have scored just 33 goals in 21 Premier League games this season. Less than any other top five club. Less than tenth-place Leicester City even.
Between them, Alexandre Lacazette, Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah have found the net on fewer occasions than Watford’s Emmanuel Dennis.
But rather than take up the option to sign Ze Luis as a short-term quick fix – TEAMtalk claim that the former Porto striker has been offered to the Gunners – Arsenal remain unmoved as the 31-year-old free-agent puts pen to paper with Al-Taawon instead.
Will Arsenal regret letting Aubameyang go to Barcelona?
The Cape Verde international has signed a contract until the end of the season.
Al-Taawon are 15th in the 16-team Saudi Arabian Premier League. They will be hoping Ze Luis, who previously fired Spartak Moscow to domestic glory, can drag them away from relegation danger.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are already making plans to add a big-name centre-forward to their squad in the summer. Alexander Isak and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are in their sights, although number one target Dusan Vlahovic opted for Juventus instead.
By the time the summer rolls around, however, it may be too late for an Arsenal side who’s Champions League hopes remain very much up in the air.
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