Arsenal have had a tough start to 2024/25, with the Gunners lacking attacking inspiration. As such, Arsenal striker targets are already being rumoured as a means of reinvigorating their attack
Arsenal's current first-choice striker Kai Havertz has accidentally become a very good all-round number nine, but there is still a feeling the Gunners could do with a more prolific marksman.
The role of striker at Arsenal is a demanding one. Mikel Arteta likes his centre-forwards to facilitate others as much as finishing chances, and there is a lot of off-ball work to do.
With that in mind, there are few strikers on the market that would offer a worthwhile upgrade on Havertz. Here are four we think could fit the bill.
Arsenal striker targets: our four candidates
Alexander Isak
Our headline target is the one and only Alexander Isak, and it is no secret that the 24-year-old has long been admired at the Emirates Stadium.
The Newcastle striker was subject to strong interest from the Gunners during his time at Real Sociedad, where he played alongside Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino.
Isak scored 21 goals and set up another two in 30 Premier League appearances last season, registering his best-ever return despite a somewhat disappointing season from Newcastle.
The Swedish international has even earned comparisons to Arsenal legend Thierry Henry for his attacking profile. While that stance naturally still has its sceptics, the former Dortmund and Willem II forward has many traits in common with Henry.
Foremostly, he is tall and blisteringly fast, but also doesn’t rely too much on his physicality. His touch and carrying ability are reminiscent of the great Frenchman, as is his preference for placing and curling his shots rather than blasting them. Positionally, Isak also likes to drift from his central striking berth onto the left, just like Henry.
Isak started the season slowly, but scored in four consecutive games before the international break, including against Arsenal.
The Gunners will also be encouraged by Isak's reticence to sign a new deal on Tyneside, with the Magpies already looking at potential replacements.
Victor Osimhen
Another player who has long featured among rumoured Arsenal striker targets is Victor Osimhen. The Super Eagle has been mentioned in the Gunners’ striker hunt for over a year now.
Osimhen averaged a goal every 165 minutes at Napoli in 2020, which is impressive given the club’s greatly fluctuating fortunes. However, Antonio Conte decided to replace the Nigerian with Romelu Lukaku.
Moves to PSG and Chelsea never materialised, leading Osimhen to join Galatasaray on loan, where he has scored eight goals in nine games, including a brace against Tottenham.
Osimhen is a physical phenomenon, blessed with unstoppable speed, bullish strength and a great leap. He has the intelligence to match too, and is often found lurking in defenders’ blindspots or making searing runs in behind. He is a good finisher, scoring at a rate 12.5% higher than his expected goals across the last four seasons.
The prolific marksman will only be 26 when he returns from his loan, and recent reports have stated that Napoli are set to drop their asking price down to just £62m, making this one of the more cost-effective moves on our list.
Benjamin Sesko
Next, we have Benjamin Sesko, who Arsenal made serious inroads towards signing at the start of the summer window as they sought to trigger his release clause.
Unfortunately for the Gunners, Sesko signed a new deal at RB Leipzig. But he is not a cold case.
Sesko was reportedly closest to joining Arsenal of his many summer suitors, and he is rumoured to have a gentleman's agreement with Leipzig to allow him to leave should the right offer come in.
The 21-year-old is freakishly similar to Haaland. He possesses the same strengths of absurd physicality in terms of speed and strength, a cannon of a shot, a relentless mentality and cerebral movement. He even played for RB Salzburg in his formative years, too.
Viktor Gyokeres
Rounding out our list is Viktor Gyokeres, Isak's international strike partner.
As of the November international break, the Sporting CP man has an incredible 55 goals and 14 assists in 57 appearances since his summer 2023 move.
To put that into context, the powerful Swede is averaging a goal or assist every 70 minutes since his move to Portugal. That's even better than Erling Haaland's Manchester City record of a contribution every 77 minutes.
Gyokeres is an incredible athlete who could terrorise any Premier League defence with his pace and power. He has proved that much in Sporting's shock 4-1 Champions League win over Manchester City, in which he scored a hat-trick.
The concern with Gyokeres will of course be the very different context he'll play in at Arsenal. At Sporting, he often has acres of space to gallop and blitz past defenders into.
Arsenal are rarely afforded that luxury, with teams usually sitting deep against the Gunners. A goal record like his is hard to ignore though.
