Arsenal in talks for “world-class” ace

When it rains, it pours, and that is certainly the case for Arsenal Football Club.

Fans were still coming to terms with the news that the incredible Eberechi Eze is almost certainly set to join Tottenham Hotspur when David Ornstein revealed that Kai Havertz has suffered a knee injury and could be out for months.

The news does help to explain the recent improvement of Leandro Trossard’s contract, but even with the Belgian on better terms, the German’s absence is a massive blow.

Fortunately, reports have linked the club with an international game-changer who could be the perfect solution to Mikel Arteta’s latest headache.

Arsenal target perfect Havertz replacement

It has been an interesting summer of business for Arsenal this year.

While the club have certainly improved the bench and made a couple of first-team additions in Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi, there is a strong sentiment among the fans that they are still short in attacking areas.

This has only been intensified following the news that Havertz could be out for a significant period.

However, in good news, the North Londoners now appear to be eyeing a move for someone who could come in and cover for the German international.

At least that is according to a recent report from Graeme Bailey, who has claimed Arsenal are in the picture for Ademola Lookman.

In fact, Bailey has revealed that following the collapse of his move to Inter Milan, the Nigerian international’s camp have been in talks with several teams, including the Gunners.

Moreover, with a reported price tag of around £43m, it might not be too difficult a deal to get over the line, and given Lookman’s immense ability, he’d be the perfect solution to this Havertz problem.

Why Lookman would be an excellent solution to Havertz’s injury

The first major positive to signing Lookman this summer is the fact that he can play anywhere across the frontline.

For example, while he spent much of last season playing up top, or as a second striker, he’s totally comfortable playing off either wing and has even spent some time in attacking midfield before.

This would be hugely important in this team, as he’d be able to play second fiddle to Gyokeres up top, while also then providing genuine competition with every other attacker in the squad, making sure they don’t fall below a certain standard and then replacing them if they do.

That brings us to the second reason the former Everton flop would be an exceptional signing for the Gunners: his output.

Since moving to the Serie A side in August 2022, the “world-class” attacker, as dubbed by the BBC’s John Bennett, has scored a brilliant 52 goals and provided 25 assists in 118 appearances, totalling 7538 minutes.

That means the Wandsworth-born game-changer has averaged a goal involvement every 1.53 games or every 97.89 minutes on the continent, which is an outrageous rate of return.

Moreover, with a match-winning hat-trick against Xabi Alonso’s then-unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen in the 2024 Europa League final, there would be no need to worry about how he’d fare in the biggest games and on the biggest stages.

Ultimately, even without Havertz’s injury, Lookman would be an excellent signing for Arsenal, but in light of German’s setback, it feels like a necessity.