Arsenal told they must sign £60m Prem star, upgrade on Arteta favourite who is being 'bullied'

Yesterday at 12:45 PM

This is a debate which swirled around Arsenal even during the days when a Premier League title appeared destined to be heading back to North London.

Does Mikel Arteta need a truly elite centre-forward to get over the line?

Those firmly in the ‘no’ camp will, of course, argue that Arsenal took the title battle down to the final day in 2023/24, scoring 91 goals along the way.

While Manchester City relied upon the dead-eyed brutality of Erling Haaland, Arsenal’s ability to share the goals around – Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard and co all contributing – was seen as something of a strength.

But flash forward to late-November, Arsenal have slipped nine points off top spot following four winless Premier League games in a row. And even the biggest supporters of Havertz, Martinelli and co could find their confidence dwindling a little.

And for Gabriel Agbonlahor, the former Aston Villa captain, Arsenal’s recent success without a world-class centre-forward only highlights what could be achieved by throwing one – perhaps an Alexander Isak, for instance – into the mix.

Arsenal told to upgrade Kai Havertz with Alexander Isak

“I think [their title hopes] have gone, I really do,” ex-England international Agbonlahor argues. “They are too reliant on Saka. Martinelli will turn up one game out of five. Havertz doesn't look to me like he's that leader that you want up front.

“They miss a striker.

“Last season, I'm sure they only scored three or four goals less [sic, five] than Manchester City. So everyone was saying they don't need a striker, they spread their goals out; Odegaard, Saka, Trossard, Martinelli, Havertz…

“But, what would you do if you did have a striker? You might go and score 10 more goals than Manchester City!”

TBR understands that Arsenal are long-time admirers of Newcastle talisman Alexander Isak. Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Barcelona too are keeping tabs on The Magpies’ £60 million record signing too, with talks over a contract extension not exactly going to plan.

The contrast between a team boasting a lethal centre-forward and one lacking one – despite Havertz’s impressive returns of late – could hardly have been made any clearer as Arsenal lost 1-0 at St James’ Park before the November international break, meanwhile.

A win secured for Newcastle by a thumping Isak header early in the first-half.

Newcastle United star on Arsenal’s radar alongside Viktor Gyokeres

“Arsenal, for me, are dying for an Isak,” adds Agbonlahor, having watched Havertz toil in the 1-1 draw at former employers Chelsea.

“That sort of player who can hold the ball up. [Isak] is strong, he's aggressive, he's quick in behind and he can score every type of goal.

"Havertz is getting bullied. He doesn't know where he's playing. The Chelsea game he was so poor.

“So for me, Arsenal, if they don't make a top striker signing in January, I don't think they're going to be up there."

TBR understands that Arsenal are watching Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres too, scouting him during that masterful Champions League destruction of Manchester City.

The powerhouse Swede has a remarkable 23 goals from just 16 Sporting appearances so far this term.

Gyokeres, formerly of Coventry City, Swansea and Brighton, breached the 30-goal mark for club and country in midweek when he hit four in a 6-0 dismantling of Azerbaijan in the UEFA Nations League.