Five strikers Arsenal should look to sign in January

Arsenal go into the international break in a strong position having finally beaten last season’s champions Manchester City on Sunday.

The Gunners sit second in the league and remain unbeaten having won six of their opening eight Premier League fixtures.

But if there is one area where the squad could still be improved, it’s up top. With that in mind, here are five options for who Arsenal could sign in January to further strenghten their title credentials…

Ivan Toney

Heavily linked with a move to Arsenal already, the Brentford striker is currently serving an eight-month ban for admitting to breaching FA betting regulations but enjoyed a superb last campaign, scoring 20 Premier League goals in 33 games before his suspension came in.

The target man would provide the Gunners with more of a focal point up top, and a reunion with goalkeeper David Raya could also work in Mikel Arteta’s favour. The two formed a strong partnership at the Bees, with Raya’s long-range passing ability and Toney’s strength in the air a useful weapon to have when it comes to releasing pressure or needing to get high up the pitch.

But more than anything, Toney’s calmness in front of goal and potent finishing could give Arsenal the boost they need to end Man City’s dominance. The fact he will not be able to play again until January, however, does leave question marks as to how long it will take him time to get up to speed again.

Victor Osimhen

The Napoli forward was heavily linked with a move away from the Serie A champions this summer but ulrimatety stayed put. His long-term future is unclear, however, with just two years left on his current deal and problems at the club. Osimhen was left angry by Napoli’s social media activity, which appeared to mock him for his penalty miss against Bologna, and could be looking for a way out in January.

Osimhen scored 26 goals in the league last season on the way to Napoli lifting the title and is one of the best strikers in Europe right now. He is approaching becoming a complete centre-forward, and his pace, strength, heading ability and high IQ when it comes to being in the right place at the right time would provide the Arsenal attack with more dynamism and, of course, goals.

Ollie Watkins

Watkins has started the season in fine form for Aston Villa, scoring a hat-trick in the 6-1 demolition of Brighton which followed another hat-trick earlier in the season against Scottish side Hibernian, which have earned him a return to the England squad under Gareth Southgate. He provides more than just goals too, racking up four assists in the Premier League so far this campaign, and enjoyed a great last season by scoring 15 times and notching six assists in the league.

He still has plenty of development ahead, particularly when it comes to his finishing in front of goal, and is probably not as much of a certainty as the previous two names. But Watkins is no doubt one of the best strikers in the Premier League at this moment, and a move to a better team could help him to kick on to the next level. He has, however, just signed a new deal at Villa, likely making a move in January more difficult, though by no means impossible.

Dusan Vlahovic

The Juventus man was one of the most sought after strikers in the world while playing for Fiorentina, with Arsenal also previously holding interest in the forward before his move to Juve, a transfer which hasn’t quite turned out how he would have hoped. Vlahovic has not hit the heights he did at La Viola but at just 23, time is certainly on his side to get back to his previous best, and perhaps even better.

Injury problems have plagued the striker since his move across Italy and provide concern for any interested suitors, but when he has played this season he has been in great form – scoring four goals in six league games. Arsenal would be taking a bit of a risk with this one but if it does work out, they’d be getting potentially one of the best strikers in the world on a cheaper deal than the alternatives.

Serhou Guirassy

Perhaps a name who is unfamiliar to some, Guirassy’s stats speak for himself. The Stuttgart forward has scored 13 goals in just seven league games to start the season and is rapidly becoming one of Europe’s most lethal strikers. Having only made his move to the Bundesliga club permanent this summer following a loan spell last season, Stuttgart will already have a battle on their hands to keep hold of the 27-year-old and Arsenal should certainly have him on their radar.

Banking on a striker who has never previously shown this level of form to continue it in a stronger league is a big bet, but the confidence and skillset Guirassy has demonstrated certainly suggests there is more to come from him.