Which Striker Should Arsenal Target Now That Dusan Vlahovic Has Signed For Juventus?

Dusan Vlahovic would have been a good fit for Arsenal. The Serbian striker made himself one of European soccer’s most sought-after young players this season, scoring 17 goals in just 21 Serie A appearances for Fiorentina, and the Gunners, according to widespread reports, saw him as their next great centre forward.

The problem is Juventus also rated him just as highly and they were willing to pay the €75m transfer fee Fiorentina wanted for their prize asset when Arsenal weren’t. Friday saw Vlahovic complete his medical ahead of signing for the Turin giants on a four-year contract in a switch that will shake up Italian soccer.

For Arsenal, though, they must reassess their centre forward targets. It’s widely acknowledged that the North London club will move for a new goalscorer in the summer window with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Arsenal career as good as over and Alexandre Lacazette’s contract set to expire at the end of the season.

Gabriel Martinelli has shown promise, but Arteta frequently uses the Brazilian on the left side of his attack rather than through the middle. Eddie Nketiah was also seen as Arsenal’s next great number nine, but the 22-year-old has failed to develop in the way many at the club believed he would. 

This likely means Arsenal will enter the transfer market to find a new frontman. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been mentioned as a potential target, but the Everton forward isn’t the most technical with the ball at his feet and is injury prone. What’s more, the Goodison Park club would likely demand a large fee for one of their prize assets, especially to sell to a Premier League rival.

Calvert-Lewin would give the Gunners a different dimension in the final third, but the 24-year-old is at his best when he is given crosses to attack and Arsenal are averaging just 16 crosses per game in the Premier League this season, one of the lowest tallies in the division. On surface value, it doesn’t appear to be a perfect fit.

Alexander Isak is another potential target. A move for the Swedish international would certainly make more sense than one for Calvert-Lewin with Isak an all-around centre forward capable of operating in a dynamic system like the one Arteta has built at the Emirates Stadium and Arsenal are believed to be long-term admirers.

Tactically, Ollie Watkins would also work well as Arsenal’s number nine, but getting the England international out of Aston Villa might be just as difficult as prising Calvert-Lewin from Everton. Watkins has sharp instincts in front of goal, but his all-round game would get the best out of Arsenal’s supplementary attacking talent. He would slot into the unit well.

Arteta has made significant progress this season with Arsenal stronger all over the pitch than they have been in a number of years. However, they have still to find the right centre forward to lead the line and potentially complete the rebuild. With Vlahovic now no longer an option, the Gunners will have to rethink things.