Frank Christian
This summer, Arsenal is actively seeking a new forward.
Mikel Arteta is determined to enhance his attacking options after the Gunners’ performance in the 2024/25 Premier League highlighted their scoring troubles.
Although Kai Havertz was sidelined for a significant portion due to injury, he managed to finish as the club’s top scorer with only nine goals in the league and 15 across all competitions.
These factors have intensified Arteta’s pursuit of a new striker, but negotiations for Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko are yet to prove fruitful, prompting sporting director Andrea Berta to explore other possibilities.
Given Arsenal’s reluctance to meet the asking prices set by Sporting CP and RB Leipzig for Gyokeres and Sesko respectively, Arteta might consider players who can perform multiple roles instead of solely focusing on a traditional striker.
Arteta has a preference for distributing the scoring responsibilities among his forwards, and this strategy may be reignited with the interest in Real Madrid’s Rodrygo Goes.
Rodrygo is facing an important decision regarding his future at Real Madrid in the coming weeks, as he remains on the outskirts of Xabi Alonso’s plans for the 2025/26 season.
Latest on Rodrygo Goes to Arsenal Transfer amid Alonso’s Indifference
Arsenal expressed their interest in Rodrygo before Real Madrid departed for the FIFA Club World Cup in early June.
The Brazilian winger communicated to Alonso his desire to utilize the tournament in the USA to showcase his potential and compete for his position within the team.
Alonso approved this request, despite ongoing speculation about Rodrygo’s future, referring to him as an ‘important player’ within his setup ahead of their opening match against Al Hilal, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
However, Alonso’s decision-making during the Club World Cup indicates otherwise, as Rodrygo only made one start in the US.
He was taken off after 65 minutes in Miami and spent the next three matches on the bench, with just a brief appearance in the 3-0 victory over RB Salzburg.
Alonso has switched between a 4-3-3 and a 5-3-2 formation in North America, neither of which seems to accommodate Rodrygo, who is frustrated by the lack of playing opportunities.
The former Santos player typically plays on the right in a three-man attack but can also operate on the left, allowing him to sync with Bukayo Saka.
This adaptability could be critical for Arteta, as reports from the Daily Mirror suggest he may submit a £70m bid this month, which is lower than the valuations for Gyokeres and Sesko but may offer more lucrative salaries.
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