Victor Gokeres is back in goal, which can only be a good thing for Arsenal. The 27-year-old turned away a quiet Wembley outing by stealing the spotlight in his homeland on Thursday night.
Sweden were one of the disappointing World Cup qualifiers given their impressive attacking talent, but Jokeles took Graham Potter’s side one step closer to the Americans after scoring a hat-trick in midweek’s semi-final play-off against Ukraine.
Scoring just 16 competitive goals at club level, and just 11 of those in the Premier League, it was not quite the debut season he had hoped for for a man who scored 97 goals in just 102 games with Sporting CP.
Will the Gunners, who have spent around £64m to sign the Lisbon side, scrap it and start fresh this summer, or instead build a fresh forward line to get the best out of him?
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Mikel Arteta’s side are heading towards the title, but it has been an overwhelming struggle for the Spanish forwards, with Goqueres the only player to reach double figures in league goals so far.
Arsenal’s top scorer – PL | ||
|---|---|---|
season | player | the goal |
25/26 | Gokeres | 11 |
24/25 | Havertz | 9 |
23/24 | of | 16 |
22/23 | Odegaard/Martinelli | 15 |
21/22 | of | 11 |
20/21 | Lacazette | 13 |
19/20 | Aubameyang | twenty two |
18/19 | Aubameyang | twenty two |
17/18 | Lacazette | 14 |
16/17 | Sanchez | twenty four |
Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke have only scored eight goals in the top flight, while the other side has been an even bigger problem, with Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli having scored just six goals combined.
In any case, while the season may end in glory, there is certainly room for improvement, and recent reports suggest that Arteta and Andrea Berta are already moving towards a potential summer deal.
TEAMtalk reports that the Gunners have already made an approach for RB Leipzig sensation Yann Diomande, and are one of the clubs that have recently held talks with the player’s camp.
According to the article, the 19-year-old, who is valued at €100m (approximately £87m), appears to be one of the hottest young wingers at the moment, and is said to be in daily contact with Premier League rivals Liverpool with the aim of making a move of their own, so there is considerable interest in his signature.
Sources have previously told Football Fancast that the Reds are indeed close to agreeing personal terms with the teenager and that Arsenal need to act quickly if they are to jump to the front of the queue this summer.
Why signing Diomande is perfect for Arsenal’s Gokeres
Was it a coincidence that Gokeres, previously the figurehead of Ruben Amorim’s attack in Sporting’s tactical set-up, returned to his wild form on Thursday night and returned to a 3-4-3 formation?
Backed by the fleet-footed Anthony Elanga, the former Coventry City star reflected on his best shot, scoring on all three of his shot attempts, while also getting more involved in the play and taking 32 touches, well above his Premier League average of just 18.3 this season.
A key part of the problem at Emirates appears to be a sign of Arsenal’s dominance. The opposition dropped back and defended their own box, not allowing Joekeles the freedom to get in behind, as he did with disastrous results against a hapless Tottenham Hotspur side in the derby.
What the Swedes need then is someone who can be a game-changer alongside him, someone who can extend their defense with blistering speed and game-winning quality. Please come in, Diomand.
Still only 19 years old, the RB Leipzig sensation has made a real breakthrough in German football, scoring 19 goals and assisting in his first 29 Bundesliga games alone.
This includes 17 goal involvements in the league, the highest figure achieved by any Arsenal player this season back at the Emirates.
The Ivorian, who played in Spain’s second division for Leganes last season, now appears to be on his way to becoming a real star, with a source speaking to Football Fancast hailing him as “the best winger in the world in the future”.
Diomande, who can function on either flank, is likely to be the Elanga-style speedster that Gokeres need with him, and the Leipzig gem also provides a real creative outlet, having created 11 “big chances” in the Bundesliga this season.
His ability to beat opponents and drive towards goal should help him free up space for players around him, like Gokeres, and it’s worth noting that Diomande averaged 3.3 dribbles per game in his debut year with the German first team.
The Bundesliga may be a different kettle of fish to the Premier League, but the £87m man is far better at that than Arsenal’s current players, with Saka leading the Gunners’ lead with just 1.8 successful dribbles per game.
Only Declan Rice has created more big chances than Diomande (14), showing what an asset he can be to Arteta’s cause.
North London’s current attacking line-up is not performing well and the Ivorian could be the solution.
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