Arsenal hero urges club to break the bank to sign one of Europe’s deadliest strikers
Today at 12:13 PM
Arsenal hero Perry Groves called on the club to sign a world-class striker, even if they have to ‘pay over the odds.’
The Gunners’ lack of ruthlessness in front of goal came back to bite on Saturday as they blew a two-goal lead in the 2-2 draw against Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium.
With Bukayo Saka out until at least March and Gabriel Jesussuffering an ACL injury, Arsenal are light on goalscoring options.
Kai Havertz, who has not scored more than 13 goals in a league campaign since 2018/19, has been tasked with shouldering the goalscoring burden for the Gunners.
The German international bagged his eighth league goal of the season against Villa and thought he’d deflected in Mikel Merino’s strike for a late winner.
However, Merino’s goal was ruled out as VAR deemed the deflection came via Havertz’s arm.
Groves praised Havertz’s all-round game but is uncertain if he is the ‘natural finisher’ the Gunners need.
“You look at the chances that were created,” Groves said on talkSPORT Breakfast.
“You look at Kai Havertz. Although he scored on Saturday, that’s where you want him all the time. You want him making runs across the near post.
“His actual general play has been really good, but he’s not a natural finisher. That’s the thing.
“I think what happened last season if you looked at the way we scored our goals, they were shared around the team. I think Arteta looked at that and thought it was going to happen.”
Last term, Saka, Leandro Trossard and Havertz all scored 12 or more goals in the Premier League.
Fast forward to this season and no Gunners player has cracked double figures in the league yet, with Havertz’s tally of eight leading the way.
There are eleven players who have scored more league goals than Havertz, including Matheus Cunha, Justin Kluivert and Yoane Wissa.
In fact, no Arsenal player has scored more than 20 league goals since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in 19/20.
With the lack of a proper centre-forward, the Gunners may be tempted to make a splash to sign one in January.
One such name who has been linked with a move to the Emirates is Victor Osimhen, who is on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli.
Since the 21/22 season, Osimhen has scored 14 or more league goals each term and looks on track to continue that trend given he has 11 in 14 games for Galatasaray this term.
When asked whether he would bring Osimhen to Arsenal, Groves was emphatic in his verdict.
“In a heartbeat,” Groves said.
“You ain’t gonna get [Alexander] Isak because Newcastle, even though they had a bad result on the weekend, they’re still looking to see if they can get into the Champions League, so they’re not going to get Isak.
“So, if it means you pay over the odds or if you take a player on loan, any centre-forward at the top level, (Ally) Coisty, you’d be licking your lips thinking, ‘I tell you what, I could make a massive difference to that Arsenal side.'”
Osimhen came close to a Premier League switch last summer, but Chelsea failed to agree personal terms.
Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli went a step further and reached an agreement with Napoli to take Osimhen on loan with a £67million obligation to buy, but the Nigerian turned down the move.
If the Gunners manage to land Osimhen or another centre forward in that mould, it could be the difference in the title race.
“I think it’s a crying shame, actually,” McCoist said.
“The amount of games I’ve been at, particularly at the Emirates, and I see that ball flashing across the six-yard box.
“I think Havertz is an excellent footballer, I really do. But I think Havertz would score the same amount of goals whether he plays centre forward, number ten or comes off the side.
“I think he’ll get 10 goals, whereas a centre forward playing in that position gets you 20, 25 (goals).”
Arsenal will hope they have no such issue with wastefulness in front of goal when they host Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League on Wednesday.
