INJURIES have forced Arsenal to play Mikel Merino as a makeshift striker, adding fuel to the fire around their lack of signings.
However, even if Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz had not been injured the Gunners would still be lacking in firepower.
Neither Jesus or Havertz completely fit the profile for the position Arteta wants to lead the line of his team in dropping deep or running into the channels.
Modern football's development in recent seasons means strikers need to be capable of breaking a game open on their own.
They are athletic, strong and capable of playing on the last line and threatening to attack space behind the defensive line.
Arsenal's issue is every top club appears to be in a similar situation as they search for the next great goalscorer; there simply are not enough top strikers to go around at the moment.
Newcastle ace Alexander Isak would have been the natural top target, but last weekend's Carabao Cup final win means the Swede is now unobtainable.
We take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of the strikers that Arsenal will be considering this summer.
Viktor Gyokeres - Sporting Lisbon and Sweden
The first name on the list is a striker who Arsenal have been linked with several times in recent seasons, 26-year-old Victor Gyokeres.
The Swedish ace has been one of Europe's top strikers in the last two seasons, hitting 50 goal contributions in 41 games this season after his 58-goal contribution tally at club level last season.
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Rightfully so, the former Coventry star is being billed up for a possible transfer fee of £83million.
He already has experience in English football with Brighton and Coventry, contributing to 60 goals or assists in 116 games for the Sky Blues, while he scored just one for the Seagulls.
Gyokeres is far beyond the level of the Portuguese top-flight and his ability to score goals from a variety of positions and situations have really stood out for Sporting.
His biggest strength comes in his ability to lead the line and to attack in moments of transition, working the channels effectively and gathering loose balls.
Meanwhile, his strength and athleticism means he can drive through the final third towards the opposition area to create danger - a quality Arsenal are missing in their squad.
However, there are genuine questions about how effective a striker like Gyokeres would be with a team that is more possession-dominant.
His technical level when receiving in tight areas and when under pressure on his touch can be slightly loose.
There is no doubt that he is better when he has space to attack as opposed to when he is trying to unlock a deeper defensive block.
Victor Osimhen - Galatasary and Nigeria
Victor Osimhen, 26, is a very experienced Nigeria international with 39 caps and 23 goals at senior international level as well as stellar at club level with 166 goal contributions across 253 games.
His time at Napoli, which of course culminated in the club's first Serie A win since Diego Maradona, looks to have come to a difficult end with Osimhen ending up on loan to Galatasaray.
This season alone he has scored 26 goals and added five assists in 30 games in all competitions, including six goals in seven matches in the Europa League.
He has clear similarities with Gyokeres in terms of profile, with both being strong and athletic strikers who are adept at playing on the last line and disrupting opposition defensive lines.
But while Gyokeres excels when he has space to attack, Osimhen is more effective in tight spaces looking to receive and break down a deeper defensive block.
Osimhen is extremely powerful with the ability to receive under pressure and create chances for himself with creative touches and movements to create separation for himself.
These qualities give weight to his £62m price tag despite having just one year left on his contract with parent club Napoli, and he is the exact type of striker Arsenal should be looking for.
The biggest area of weakness for Osimhen comes in his out-of-possession work, with him being far from a monster in that respect.
Hugo Ekitike - Eintracht Frankfurt and France
Eintracht Frankfurt in the German Bundesliga have developed something of a reputation as a finishing school for strikers with several players being sold for big money.
The France Under-21 international Hugo Ekitike, 22, appears to be the latest gem on that conveyor belt, with an estimated potential fee of £67m.
Ekitike has scored 19 goals in 38 matches in all competitions so far this season, having moved to Frankfurt last summer from Paris Saint-Germain in France.
The 22-year-old is extremely similar to Isak in that he is comfortable in a variety of situations.
He can receive back to goal in deeper areas and link the play and he is comfortable in the channels.
Crucially, however, he is strong when receiving on the last line with the ability to make space for himself and to get shots away.
At the moment the biggest area of development that Ekitike has is improving his consistency and decision making in the final third.
He is obviously younger than both Gyokeres and Osimhen with more development to come from him, but it can be argued Arsenal need a ready-made forward sooner rather than later.
Benjamin Sesko - RB Leipzig and Slovenia
The fact Arsenal need a striker has been common knowledge for some time now and as such there have been players who have been consistently linked to a move to the club.
One of those is the 21-year-old RB Leipzig and Slovenia star Benjamin Sesko.
The Gunners were rumoured to be interested in the striker both in the summer and in the winter transfer window, although Sesko was keen to see the season out in Germany.
So far this season Sesko has scored 17 goals in 36 games including four goals in eight Champions League games.
Sesko is tall, powerful and fast and he combined the ability to play in space and transition with the ability to play on the highest line and to receive the ball with back to goal.
There is no doubt that his biggest strength as a striker though comes through his ball striking and the power that he can generate from shots.
Sesko’s biggest area of development is his technical ability, patience and consistency when he receives the ball.
At the moment there is still a sense with him that he has a tendency to try to force the game too aggressively as opposed to being more composed and calm in possession of the ball.
Sehrou Guirassy - Borussia Dortmund and Guinea
The next player we have shortlisted is 29-year-old Sehrou Guirassy of Borussia Dortmunda and Guinea, who could cost as much as £40m.
After a slightly slower start to his career Guirassy exploded last season while at VfB Stuttgart before making a move across Germany to sign for Dortmund.
Guirassy has scored 24 goals in 36 matches this season including 10 goals in 12 Champions League appearances.
It would be fair to say Guirassy is very much a last-line striker, and there is no doubt he would improve Arsenal’s forward play with his ability to play high and receive the ball under pressure.
He has impressed in recent seasons with his ability to get on the ball and create space and angles to get shots away around the penalty area.
His movement and ability to get little pockets of separation from defenders help him to create shooting opportunities.
Despite the impressive performances that we have seen from Guirassy in recent seasons there is still some doubt as to his ability to perform at the highest level.
Does he have the ability to play with his back to goal and then to attack space against the more athletic profiles of defenders in the Premier League?
Samu (Omorodion) Aghehowa - Porto and Spain
The rise of Samu Aghehowa, also known as Omorodion, to this point has been nothing short of spectacular.
From playing in the fourth tier of Spanish football just two seasons ago to being recognised as one of the most promising young strikers in European football.
The young striker moved initially to Atletico Madrid having just broken into the first team at Granada, leading to heavy links with Chelsea before he moved to join Porto.
So far this season he has scored 20 goals in 34 games this season with six goals in nine games in the Europa League.
Aghehowa, 20, is extremely powerful and he is at his best in the final third and around the opposition penalty area.
He is very strong when it comes to attacking the ball in the air and he routinely displays the ability to dominate opposition defenders from crosses or high balls into the area.
Rated at potentially £84m, he can also shield the ball and bring others into the game as his team attacks.
At the moment Aghehowa still has to refine and improve his technical level.
He needs to improve his ability to receive and outplay defenders and add more to his game in terms of his passing when he comes into deeper positions.
Liam Delap - Ipswich and England
It would be fair to say the performances of Liam Delap have been one of the real highlights of Ipswich's first season back in the Premier League.
The 22-year-old, England Under-21 star is a product of the youth academy at Manchester City but moved to Ipswich on a permanent deal last summer.
He is another striker who has real power and pace with the ability to stretch the game and provide threat with his off-ball movement to attack space around the final third.
So far this season he has scored 10 goals in 31 matches, a strong return for a team facing relegation from the Premier League this season.
Delap has the ideal profile for a modern striker.
He has the frame to attack with real power and he is quick when he gets into stride and can run to attack space in advanced areas.
As a striker he can carry the ball over longer distances and drive past opposition players with real pace and power.
He still needs to develop his consistency and at the moment it is unclear whether he would be as effective when playing against a team who sit in a deeper and more compact defensive block or for a team that are more possession-dominant.
Conclusion
There are several players who are options for Arsenal going forward as they look to add a striker to their current squad.
The issue is that there will be significant competition for any of the seven players that we have discussed in this article.
Arsenal will have to be aggressive in terms of securing the right target.
Given the position Arsenal are in they need to add a proven winner and goalscorer who can give them the edge and help them to win the Premier League.
While there is every chance that a forward like Ekitike would thrive at Premier League level, we believe Osimhen is the striker who would have the biggest impact next season for Arteta’s side.
His experience of leading Napoli to the Serie A title just a couple of seasons ago and the fact Napoli would be very keen to do a deal. are key factors.
The fact he is not a pressing monster can be worked around, as we saw in his time at Napoli under Spalletti.
Two seasons ago, he was the man who led the press for Napoli, and there is no reason why he cannot do it again.
This tactical approach is something that Arteta could easily replicate given the nature of the players that would be either side of Oshimen.
And his attacking prowess at both holding the ball up and also stretching that last line of defence make him a very interesting match for Arsenal.
Raabioru
1
good 👍
Galaman
0
Gunners need Antony
Alexandershitaleni
0
Isak or Delap🙏🙌🏾
Allez_
0
They should go for joselu
😹
Efte209
0
I am afraid that Arsenal will end up to bring a 33+ free player like Karim Benzima or Diego Costa to make it as cheap as possible.😆
Efte209
1
Nico Williams is the best for Arsenal.
Wobabiosuz
3
I prefer isaka of Newcastle
Doxmang
0
They haven't even signed one, you are speaking of two. Arsenal will always be Arsenal.
I dream of that as a good arsenal fan bro
miguelbumba
0
Is Osimhen still demanding half a million weekly wages? Not even Chelsea or City can give him that at first time of asking.. Haaland was given that cos he's breaking records and Isak will get near that cos he's delivering. That's how this business goes..
zayaenopry
1
Benjamin sesko or Viktor gyokeres
Tunaikmps
2
Arsenal should buy OSIMHEN... He's the answer to our striker problem
Random9
1
They should go for joselu
daranuel
1
Osimhen will win both Champions league and EPL for Arsenal... IF they make a MISTAKE of signing him. why does Arsenal NOT making this necessary mistake.?
Wiadelmost
0
Arsenal can't afford any of these players too broke
Bupbdlpruz
1
Why not sign two from this players incase injury comes up again and flush players like Jesus and Haverty
They haven't even signed one, you are speaking of two. Arsenal will always be Arsenal.
ZAZA19
1
Arsenal atleast two world class strikers
Dohalmnotu
1
when it comes to arsenal it's going to be rumours until the transfer window closes this team is boring when it comes to signing players because this thing of a striker at arsenal didn't start yesterday or today even a blind person saw longtime ago that arsenal needs a striker but they don't buy it's always rumours now en then when Arteta was asked about a striker he said goals can come anyway yes they can come anyway but you need someone you will rely on him for goals not this thing of goals can come anyway
Yosalpuy
0
Benjamin Sesko....
Louacdimu
2
Victor is the right stricker for us
Vooclprsty
0
Delap is good for us
Tibcdeklnp
1
please go for isak
ColinsGooner
0
Why not sign two from this players incase injury comes up again and flush players like Jesus and Haverty
true that
ColinsGooner
1
sign Osimhen,ISAK,Sesko and Ekitike or Delap any 2of these strikers they are good enough to take Arsenal to the finish line
Nouabemrty
1
Benjamin Sessko is the best choice for Arsenal
sazdeipz
0
Please,go for victor Gyokeres
Doxmang
2
Why not sign two from this players incase injury comes up again and flush players like Jesus and Haverty
sumdeimnru
2
osimhen is better player to play for Arsenal or Alexander isak of Newcastle United these two players to Solve arsenal problems
jisbloptu
1
bring in Victor Osimhen
Fudge007
1
all these players are good but Greenwood would be ideal IMO🤌
vecabcky
1
Arsenal need to go and sign Nunez from Liverpool.better than any striker.
JustGunner
0
Seskô perhaps but have to admit Liam Delap has hugely impressed with his play this season... if Arsenal go for him I wouldn't mind at all 🙂
bioblmnpy
1
where is Isak. that's the right profile to take Arsenal over the line.
lutbilmory
3
Just get us any of the Victors and stop talking about age and future bcoz we are already in the future
Outlier
1
Osimhen fits Arsenal’s style of attack best. He can break down low block defenders
GunnArs
0
the ‘problem’ i see with osimhen is his wages and maybe attitude, he was a hero in napoli before being shifted out to turkish league. gyokeres is the better option for me, though sesko is younger and can still improve a lot. but heeey as an arsenal fan i’m just happy when we finally buy a striker. 😅
Calsonatoh
0
We don’t need osimeh
BankoleLonge
2
...and the winner is ... Victor Osimhen!!!
Enesi13
3
they need Osimhen more