During his time at Arsenal, Gabriel Jesus was the only player Mikel Arteta brought in with the primary aim of playing as a centre-forward. Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz were also tried in this position but neither were first-choice. Trossard mainly played on the left wing, while Havertz was seen as a false nine.
Having been in commendable form in 2024, Havertz has contributed five Premier League goals in 15 games. However, his inconsistent form as a centre-forward has left the Gunners under pressure to sign a new striker in the winter transfer window.
Arteta’s coaching style shows that he is not just looking for a striker who can score goals, but also wants them to unite the squad and lift the overall playing style. Gabriel Jesus is the clearest example. The Brazilian star not only helps Arsenal attack more effectively but also links Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and previously Granit Xhaka.
Before Jesus joined in 2022, the Gunners relied heavily on Alexandre Lacazette, who was outplayed by opponents with just four goals in 30 Premier League games in his final season with Arsenal. Jesus brought a breath of fresh air with his ability to hold the ball up and change the direction of attack with ease, but injuries and limited playing time have made it difficult for the 27-year-old to maintain that influence over the past 18 months.
Before signing 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 also performed brilliantly with 43 goals in 84 matches.
Despite not being a prolific goalscorer at Real Sociedad, Isak has stood out for his ability to dribble and contribute to the overall play. These qualities make him a potential option for the centre-forward role that Mikel Arteta wants to build.
Previously, under coach Arsene Wenger, he favored strikers over 1.80m tall, with speed and technique to coordinate the play. Thierry Henry (1.88m), Nicolas Anelka (1.86m) and Emmanuel Adebayor (1.91m) are typical examples. With similar height and skills, 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 St James' Park team. Besides, at the age of 25, Isak is at the same stage of maturity as Jesus when he signed for Arsenal.
In fact, the Gunners have set their sights on Benjamin Sesko in the summer of 2024, adding to speculation about the type of striker Arteta wants. Sesko (6ft 1in) has outstanding pace and height, and is closer in style to Vlahovic than Jesus or Isak. This shows the flexibility in the way the Arsenal manager approaches the transfer market, especially when versatile strikers are increasingly scarce.
In addition, Mikel Arteta also left open the possibility of developing young talent. Ethan Nwaneri, 17 years old, was 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 League Cup win over Crystal Palace was a reminder of Gabriel Jesus’s exceptional ability. The hat-trick not only secured Arsenal’s place in the next round but also restored some confidence in the Brazilian’s role in the team. But if the Gunners were to bring in a new striker, it would be a different story, perhaps bigger and with a different style.
