Arsenal face an important period with the transfer window reopen and pre-season on the horizon. Mikel Arteta is under pressure to turn the narrow misses into success after finishing runners-up in the Premier League in each of the last three seasons.
The Gunners’ firepower has been crying out for reinforcements and with Arsenal’s failure to reinvest into their forward options in the summer window, there is a growing demand to replenish their goal scorers. Season-ending injuries for Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus all but ended their hopes of challenging Liverpool last term, as well as an extended period on the side lines for Bukayo Saka, but their attacking woes were evident following failed attempts last summer.
This time around, Arsenal are being repeatedly linked with forwards across Europe with Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres taking centre stage.
Another forward that was said to have been lined up was Spain and Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams.
However, according to The Athletic, Arsenal have cooled their interest in the 22-year-old with Barcelona set to push forward in their pursuit.
Arsenal are said to be admirers of Real Madrid star Rodrygo, too. The Brazilian faces an uncertain future in the Spanish capital with the threat of his gametime diminishing.
Rodrygo already competes with the likes of Vinicius Jr, Kylian Mbappe, Arda Guler and Endrick for a starting berth while River Plate starlet Franco Mastantuono is set to join Los Blancos – plunging Rodrygo’s future further into scrutiny.
The 24-year-old can play across the front three position and the versatility could be an added incentive to bring him into the club. Paris Saint-Germain have displayed just how dangerous a fluid, inter-changing front-three can be and if Arteta can instill his own version of that, it could bring a new dynamism to their attacking play.
Gyokeres reportedly turned down Manchester United in favour of a move to the Emirates Stadium. However, the problem facing recruitment chiefs now is whether they should go for the Sweden international or pursue a deal for long-standing target, Sesko.
The 27-year-old has a jaw-dropping goals return with 92 strikes in 104 appearances for Sporting CP and is heading into his prime.
Meanwhile, the Slovenian powerhouse has the capability to become one of the most feared marksmen in Europe. Sesko has the profile of the new wave of prolific talismen, similar to Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland, and his signature could be the missing piece to the jigsaw for the Gunners.
With Arsenal now steering their attention elsewhere away from Williams, it poses the question surrounding the recruitment strategy that Andrea Berta and Arteta will implement.
Both Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have two years remaining on their contracts and whether they pen fresh terms remains to be seen.
But they could soon find themselves in a similar situation to Liverpool, who had three high profile players close to running down their deals last summer.
With the looming threat of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability, Arsenal could afford to offload Jesus or Havertz, or even Martinelli with the chips in their hands regarding a transfer fee as a makeweight to achieve the signings of Sesko and Rodrygo.
A high-profile attacking signing or two would send a clear transfer message to the rest of the squad of their intent and fire a warning to the rest of the Premier League with the title race looking increasingly intriguing next season.
Liverpool are set to break their own transfer record with Florian Wirtz’s signature while Pep Guardiola moved decisively before the Club World Cup to bring in Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki and Rayan Ait-Nouri.
Arsenal’s top-flight rivals have strengthened and threaten to continue their transfer splurge in the coming weeks before the Premier League campaign gets underway.
With news of interest cooling in Williams and important weeks to follow and with the transfer sagas bubbling on, here’s how a dream Arsenal attack could line-up…
Arsenal dream attack after Nico Williams decision
Bukayo Saka, Benjamin Sesko, Rodrygo.
