z3u9t.icuFormer Arsenal forward Jermaine Pennant has told Football FanCast that Mikel Arteta’s transfer plans may have changed ahead of the summer transfer window.
Title race hotting up
The Gunners’ Premier League title hopes were boosted by Liverpool’s 2-2 draw at Aston Villa on Wednesday, now sitting eight points behind the Reds with a game in hand, though they may still be left to rue the decision not to bring in any new signings in January.
Rather than signing a new striker, Arteta made the call to stick with Kai Havertz, but the German has since been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury, joining a number of other first-team players on the treatment table.
Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli are also sidelined, while Bukayo Saka is expected to be out for at least another month, leaving Arteta light on options in attack, and the manager has been increasingly reliant on young players.
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Ethan Nwaneri has come into the fold since Saka was ruled out, picking up three goals and an assist in the Premier League this season, while Myles Lewis-Skelly has also received increased game time at left-back.
When asked whether the emergence of Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly could impact Arsenal’s summer transfer plans, Pennant told Football FanCast: “I think so, you’ve seen now that Nwaneri can be a more than suitable replacement for Saka. You can put him in – like Liverpool throwing in a Gakpo or Diaz – and either/or you’re happy with. So with Nwaneri and Saka they’ve got that right hand side in a good place.
“Lewis-Skelly at left back, he’s proven that he’s more than capable in that position, so again they don’t really need to focus on that.
“So I think that’s helped them going into the market to really now finally focus on a good number nine.”
Alexander Isak's price tag drops
Pennant’s suggestion that Arteta could focus on signing a striker this summer comes at the same time as the news that Alexander Isak’s price tag has now dropped to £83m, in what could be a real boost for the Gunners.
While still a large fee, Isak has been incredible in the Premier League this season, scoring 17 goals and picking up five assists in 23 games, which indicates the Swedish forward would be worth Arsenal breaking the bank for at the end of the season.
Although Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly are still teenagers, they have shown maturity beyond their years since emerging as first-team stars this season, with Arteta’s side showing no signs of slowing down in the Premier League title race since Saka’s injury.
As such, the Gunners’ main priority this summer has to be bringing in an out-and-out striker who can guarantee goals, and Isak, who has been described as “world-class” by members of the media, certainly fits the bill in that regard.