Arsenal shift focus to low-priced striker: The Gunners enter another transfer battle with Chelsea

• Tweet
• Pin It

Both Arsenal and Chelsea set into the transfer window vying to secure a new and effective number 9 to represent their colours. 

Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen has been the top priority, after his standout seasons for Napoli, including a remarkable 2022/23 Seria A winning display in Naples that has since brought him to stardom in Europe. This season’s transfer saga has been non-stop, a possible exit for the Nigerian is more likely, but with his huge release clause, it’s becoming more unlikely that he would join either of the English teams this summer. Both teams have also been linked with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko this summer, although the Slovenian striker signed a new contract with the German Club to end the speculation about his future. 

The Blues need an additional center forward to compete with Nikolas Jackson who has suffered from inconsistency in front of goal. In their bid to win the Premier League, they need a strong center forward to solidify their team. A move to secure Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres remains unlikely with each passing day. Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah is getting closer to a move to Crystal Palace with zero confidence in retaining his spot in Mikel Arteta’s team. The striker has previously rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Marseille earlier in the transfer window. The Eagles made an offer of £25m plus £5m add-ons for Nketiah but nothing has been finalized at this time. 

Arsenal has recently completed the signing of Spain’s Mikel Merino for £27 million plus add-ons from Real Sociedad as their fourth deal this summer. After spending around £85m this summer, the North London club is looking towards cutting down funds to get stricter before the end of the transfer window. 

Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Brentford’s Ivan Toney have entered the last years of their contracts in their clubs and have emerged as realistic and cheaper options to lead the London clubs in attack this season. Both Chelsea and Arsenal are weighing their options and are currently in talks with the player’s representatives about a possible deal. 

Both English strikers have spent their careers across English teams. 27-year-old Calvert-Lewin began his career at Shielfield United and has since featured for Northampton, Stalybridge, and Everton. The English striker has scored 82 times in his 292 appearances in senior football. He only scored twice last season and was sidelined for most of the season due to injury. 

28-year-old Ivan Toney has also spent his career across England Top division teams like Brentford, Peterborough, Northampton, Scunthorpe United, Wigan, Shrewsbury, and Newcastle, scoring a total of 169 goals in 418 appearances in senior football.

CHARLIE PATINO JOINS DEPORTIVO LA CORUNA 

20-year-old Arsenal wonder kid Charlie Patino has left Mikel Arteta’s side to join La Liga2 side Deportivo La Coruna on a permanent transfer. The Spanish side paid €1.20m to secure the services of the impressive English midfielder.

The English central midfielder was born in Watford and began his footballing career with Luton Academy. He was scouted and purchased by the Arsenal Youth team in 2015 for €11k when he signed his first professional contract. He has since featured for the Gunners U18, U21, and U23 teams with loan spells to Blackpool and Swansea senior teams in 2022 and 2023 respectively. He made his first team debut for Arsenal in December 2021.

Following his departure, Arsenal stated on their official website;

“Charlie Patino has joined La Liga 2 side Deportivo de La Coruna in a permanent transfer. We thank Charlie for his contribution to the club during his time with us and wish him all the best for his next chapter with Deportivo de La Coruna”

The left-footed player has also been consistent for England’s youth team since the start of his youthful career, featuring 22 times for England from the U-15 team up to their U-21 and scoring twice with multiple assists. With his age and talent maturing, a change in location and commitment might just be what Charlie Patino needs at this time to grow as a player by gaining consistent playtime.

WHEN WAS THE LAST GOLDEN YEARS FOR ARSENAL FC?

Arsenal’s men’s team has secured 13 League titles in English football. They only rank behind Manchester United’s twenty and Liverpool’s nineteen victories in the League. Their most recent wins since the inception of the Premier League in 1992 are the 1997/98, 2001/02, and 2003/04 seasons under the leadership of French manager Arsène Wenger.

Arsenal’s first Premier League title after its inception came in the 1997/98 season, which was also Arsène Wenger’s first league title with the club and the Gunners’ first League win in seven years. It was an impressive way to mark their 100th year in competitive football. Arsenal’s key players at the time included Denis Bergkamp, Marc Overmars, and Ian Wright. They combined to score 38 league goals that season.

The Gunners began the season in strong form and endured three defeats in four games between November and December, pulling them into a sixth-place position. By February, they lagged defending champions Manchester United by 10 points. In a remarkable turn of events, Arsenal went on a 10-match winning streak to beat Man United to the League trophy with 2 games to spare.

Arsenal ended Manchester United’s three consecutive winning streak by winning the 2001/02 season. A feat fans hoped Mikel Arteta’s team could repeat last season with Manchester City. Arsène Wenger’s team finished seven points ahead of second-placed Liverpool. The Gunners remained unbeaten away from home while achieving a rare feat of scoring in every league game that season. Thierry Henry won the Golden Boot with 24 League goals. 

No achievement in English football comes close to what Arsenal achieved in the 2003/04 season– “The Invincibles.” This was Arsenal’s last win in the Premier League and surprisingly the most renowned. The Gunners recorded 26 wins and 12 draws, without losing a single League game. They did so with an 11-point margin over second-placed Chelsea. To commemorate this achievement, the Arsène Wenger-led side was awarded a unique gold trophy, a departure from the traditional silverware. Thierry Henry was again the League’s top scorer with 30 goals.

Bayer Leverkusen’s 51 games unbeaten run last season is the only record above Arsenal’s 49 matches unbeaten league run between May 2003 and October 2004. Their second-place finish under Mikel Arteta is their best league result since the Invincible year. 

UPCOMING ARSENAL FIXTURES

Venue: Emirates Stadium

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Arsenal (Premier League, Sunday 15th September 2024, 14:00)  

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Manchester City vs. Arsenal (Premier League, Sunday 22nd September 2024, 16:30)  

Venue: Etihad Stadium

Arsenal vs. Leicester City (Premier League, Saturday 28th September 2024, 15:00)  

Venue: Emirates Stadium

Arsenal vs. Southampton (Premier League, Saturday 5th October 2024, 15:00)  

Venue: Emirates Stadium

Bournemouth vs. Arsenal (Premier League, Sunday 20th October 2024, 14:00)  

Venue: Vitality Stadium 

Arsenal vs. Liverpool (Premier League, Sunday 27th October 2024, 16:30)  

Venue: Emirates Stadium

WHERE TO FIND AVAILABLE ARSENAL TICKETS

Explore available Arsenal Tickets that are currently in high demand. See seat maps and compare prices to secure the best seats at the stadiums. It may be difficult to find available tickets from official sites due to this overwhelming demand, but no need to worry, Secondary marketplaces remain your most reliable source for getting a spot for yourself and loved ones in the games you love. 

Arsenal Football Club has been through it all since the club’s inception in 1886. Their upcoming fixtures in the 2024/25 season promise fans a front-row seat to the excitement of the game. Ensure you don’t miss any drama, reserve your tickets, and cheer on this talented team on their journey to break the 20-year League drought while battling for other honors in England and Europe.

• Tweet
• Pin It