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Home   >   Features   >   A Left Back and a Striker – Is That All Arsenal Need to Invest In?

A Left Back and a Striker – Is That All Arsenal Need to Invest In?

By on April 25, 2024

Ivan Toney Brentford

Arsenal have given a lot of hope to their fans in this English Premier League (EPL) season. With some impressive wins already under their belt, they are looking like a great team in the making as we edge closer to the transfer window.

One sore point about the Gunners is their squad depth and quality. Two key positions the team often struggles to fill are left back and striker. So, will the team make a bold move and trade up to bolster these positions? Let’s find out.

Current squad

If you are a true Arsenal fan, you know that the current squad lacks a left-back and someone up front. While both Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior have shown sparks of brilliance in a few games, their performance needs to be more consistent at such a crucial position.

While the strikers have done well so far, the team is quite publicly looking for a new striker to take them to the next level. Gabriel Jesus’ injury woes and Eddie Nketiah’s inconsistent contributions have sparked the demand to get some fresh legs to fill this position.

The case for a new left-back

If you follow modern football, you will agree that a left-back is much more than a defender. Having a skilled player in this position will influence a squad’s ability to defend and mount a fluid, swift attack. The ideal player for Arsenal should have excellent defending skills, sprint down the flank, and deliver some immaculate crosses.

Don’t be surprised if Arsenal decides to invest handsomely in filling this crucial position. You must have read about some of the potential bigwigs being floated as the next Arsenal left-back. Some of the most talked about players include:

  • Alejandro Grimaldo
  • Ferdi Kadioglu
  • Rayan Ait-Nouri
  • Jorrel Hato

All these players do look quite promising, but with the transfer window approaching fact, nothing seems concrete at this point. The betting market at https://www.10bet.co.za/sports/ seems to favour Alejandro Grimaldo getting this role, but everything at this point is just conjecture.

The case for a new striker

Arsenal plays a fast, attack-heavy, and entertaining brand of football. Whether they win, lose, or draw, you, as a fan, will love every moment of the game. This style of play requires the team to have a striker who can consistently turn half-chances into goals.

The team needs someone who not only has an eye for goal but can also fit into the intricate passing play that manager Mikel Arteta favours, despite stating that he wants to put an end to it. A striker with the ability to link up play, press defenders, and pop up in crucial scoring positions could be the keystone for a successful season.

Here are a few players who are being talked about to make a move to North London:

  • Ivan Toney
  • Joshua Zirkzee
  • Victor Osimhen

While the gunners have their keen eye on Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian international has had a dip in form since the stellar 2022/23 campaign. Maybe the gunners might be able to bag him for less money. Only time will tell.

Whatever happens, the addition of any one of these is undoubtedly going to strengthen Arsenal’s offensive lineup.

Additional considerations

While the focus remains on a new left-back and striker, Arsenal should not overlook other areas. The midfield could use more depth, and a backup goalkeeper might also be on the shopping list.

It is surely going to be a task for the club to manage high-profile signings while nurturing young talents like Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe. If you have seen some footage of these youngsters, you can’t help but be impressed with their skill.

But then, young Kieran Tierney was also being touted as Arsenal’s future, with some people even seeing a future captain in him. A series of hamstring injuries have kept him out for much of the season, and the Gunners might just let him go this summer.

Arsenal management has their work cut out this transfer season. They need to get the right players and increase their bench strength at the same time. Is it difficult? Well, that’s what makes football the most exciting sport in the world, right?

To sum it up

Investing in a new left-back and the striker could indeed elevate Arsenal’s game significantly. However, success in the highly competitive Premier League requires a holistic approach to squad building. Arsenal must weigh its strategic priorities against financial realities, ensuring it builds a balanced team capable of sustaining performance across all competitions.