Liverpool and Man City have forced Edu into major Arsenal transfer decision on striker signing – Bailey Keogh

Manchester City and Liverpool have both strengthened in the forward department which enhance both sides’ attacking firepower ahead of next season. Arsenal must also follow suit.

Erling Haaland’s transfer to Manchester City has been confirmed alongside Darwin Nunez’s move to Liverpool. Arsenal were previously linked to Nunez but a move never managed to materialise.

Despite the failure to sign the Uruguayan, there are still many other options that Mikel Arteta can choose from in order to have a presence in the forward line that Arsenal were clearly lacking towards the end of the last campaign. Here are five forwards that would help Arsenal in their push for Champions League qualification next season.

READ MORE: Arsenal given £51m quote to beat Tottenham to Mikel Arteta’s ideal Martin Odegaard alternative

Gabriel Jesus

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Gunners are preparing the opening bid for Jesus. Manchester City want around £50million to sell the forward, even if his current deal won’t be extended. Romano went on to claim that Arsenal already discussed a transfer with Jesus’ agent. “We like the project,” Marcelo Pettinati told Romano.

Arteta and the Brazilian international have worked together before during the Spaniard’s three-year tenure at City as one of Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff. This adds another incentive to secure his signature and improve the forward line ahead of next season.

During Jesus’ time with Arteta, the Brazilian played 6931 minutes and he managed to score 55 goals. This meant that his goals per 90 minutes reached an average of 0.71. This record is better than when Arteta left City because, without the Spaniard, Jesus has played 6850 minutes and scored 39 goals which means he reached an average of 0.51 goals per game.

Jesus had a 39% goal improvement when he was being coached by Arteta, and it is certainly a relationship the pair could rekindle if the Brazilian decides to join the Gunners at the end of the season.

Victor Osimhen

According to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Napoli have lined up Armando Broja as a potential replacement for Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian international is reportedly a target for Arsenal and Bayern Munich, but will cost around €100million (£84million), which the Gunners have yet to reach.

The Gunners lacked a player who had a knack for goals and a player whose first thought is to get a shot on goal. Osimhen’s impressive statistics prove that he would be the player to elevate the level of Mikel Arteta’s side.

Osimhen replicates Kylian Mbappe’s shooting statistics with both players averaging more than four shots per match and having an expected goals per shot ratio of just over 0.13, which is impressive for the Nigerian international being in the same bracket as Europe’s hottest prospect in Mbappe.

Osimhen scored 18 goals in 32 matches this season. The Napoli forward is an athletic, quick and imposing attacker. He mixes a lightning turn of pace with long-distance speed and is certainly more than capable of being a prominent threat on the counter-attack for Arsenal.

Gianluca Scamacca

Another potential striker signing is Gianluca Scamacca as 90min have reported that Edu has been left impressed with the performances of the Italian international throughout the 2021/22 campaign.

The 23-year-old netted 16 Serie A goals and it is claimed that Arsenal are now preparing to make an official offer to the Neroverdi. A deal will not be cheap to complete, which was emphasised by Superagent Robert De Fanti.

He said via CaughtOffside: “It is rumoured throughout the industry that Arsenal made a £25million offer to Sassuolo for Scamacca in the last couple of days. The fee needed, I believe, will be about £50m. Sassuolo has already pushed back offers from clubs in the Premier League – Arsenal, of course, and Newcastle United.”

At 6ft 5in, the Italian would certainly add a physical presence to the Arsenal forward line. The Gunners lacked aerial dominance throughout the last campaign but Scamacca would certainly be the solution to this issue.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Calvert-Lewin is a player who has been touted to prevent the striker shortages at Arsenal. With Newcastle seemingly deciding to opt against signing him, it now gives the Gunners one less competitor in securing his services.

Edu can look to exploit the transfer market to unlock a new attacking style, which will elevate Arteta’s team in the final third if they can sign a striker with an aerial presence. Calvert-Lewin would be the perfect signing to fill this void, as he has the necessary height and aerial dominance alongside the Premier League experience. He has scored 44 Premier League goals so far in his career, with 19 coming via his head.

Jonathan David

Arsenal are long-term admirers of David. Their interest in him dates back to his time in Belgium with Gent before he joined Lille in 2020.

The youngster will be available for a transfer in the summer, and reportedly for a £47m transfer fee. Speaking to Radio Canada, David’s agent Nick Mavromaras said: “For us, the objective is to finish the season in Lille, but it will be his last season there for several reasons.”

David performed excellently this season in Ligue 1 and in the Champions League. He played a pivotal part in the club’s European knockout stage progression before eventually being knocked out by Chelsea in the round of 16.

The Canadian striker’s exploits at club and international level in terms of being able to lead his teams to surprising success could certainly be appealing to Arteta. Especially with the £47million price tag for him which could prove to be a bargain.