During his time at Arsenal, Gabriel Jesus was the only player Mikel Arteta brought in with the main purpose of playing as a striker. Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz have also been tested in this position but neither are the first choice. Trossard mainly played on the left wing, while Havertz was seen as a false-forward.
With commendable form in 2024, Havertz has contributed 5 goals in the Premier League after 15 matches. However, the lack of consistency in the striker role has caused The Gunners to face the pressure to find a new striker in the winter transfer window.
Arteta's coaching style shows that he is not only looking for a good striker to score, but also wants them to join the squad and improve the overall play. Gabriel Jesus is the clearest proof. The Brazilian star not only helps Arsenal attack more effectively but is also a link between Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and previously Granit Xhaka.
Before Jesus joined in 2022, the "Gunners" depended heavily on Alexandre Lacazette, who was caught by opponents with only 4 goals in 30 Premier League matches in his final season with Arsenal. Jesus brought a breath of fresh air thanks to his ability to hold the ball and change the direction of attack flexibly. However, injuries and limited playing time have made it difficult for the 27-year-old striker to maintain this influence over the past 18 months.
Before recruiting Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal had targeted Alexander Isak and Dusan Vlahovic, two strikers with impressive heights (1m90 and 1m91). Vlahovic joined Juventus in January 2022 and scored 53 goals in 121 matches. Isak moved to Newcastle in the summer of the same year and has also excelled with 43 goals in 84 games.
Although he did not have a very high scoring efficiency at Real Sociedad, Isak stood out thanks to his ability to dribble and contribute to the overall play. These qualities make him a potential choice for the striker role that Mikel Arteta wants to build.
Previously, under coach Arsene Wenger, he favored strikers over 1m80 tall, with speed and technique to coordinate playing style. Thierry Henry (1m88), Nicolas Anelka (1m86) and Emmanuel Adebayor (1m91) are typical examples. With similar height and skill, Alexander Isak seems to fit the vision of both Wenger and Arteta.
However, recruiting the Swedish star from Newcastle is not easy, especially when he is an important factor at the home team at St James' Park. In addition, at the age of 25, Isak is in the same stage of maturity as Jesus when he signed for Arsenal.
In fact, The Gunners have set a goal of recruiting Benjamin Sesko in the summer of 2024. This also creates more speculation about the type of striker Arteta wants. Sesko (1m96) has outstanding speed and height, with a style closer to Vlahovic than Jesus or Isak. This shows the flexibility in the way the Arsenal captain approaches the transfer market, especially when versatile strikers are increasingly scarce.
In addition, Mikel Arteta also leaves open the possibility of developing young talent. Ethan Nwaneri, 17, was once mentioned by the Spanish coach as a potential option for the striker position in the future. However, the 42-year-old strategist affirmed that this is not a short-term solution, but only a long-term direction in the process of building the team.
The 3-2 win over Crystal Palace in the League Cup was a reminder of Gabriel Jesus' special ability. This hat-trick not only brought Arsenal a ticket to the next round but also restored some confidence in the role of the Brazilian star in the squad. However, if the "Gunners" added a new striker, it would be a completely different story, possibly taller and with a different style.
