Arsenal could be facing a major injury crisis if some reports about Gabriel Jesus are true, and even if some of the more optimistic estimations of around a month out prove accurate, it’s surely time for the Gunners to invest in a major signing up front this January.
Arsenal may not get an opportunity like this again for years, maybe even decades – they surprisingly sit top of the Premier League table with a five-point lead after an outstanding start and a couple of slip-ups from a Manchester City team that surely still have the best squad overall.
Losing Jesus could majorly derail things for Arsenal, unless they buy their way out of trouble and add depth to that forward line in January. Eddie Nketiah is a decent backup player for a side chasing the top four, but the club are ahead of schedule now and so need to think bigger.
Here’s our list of five players who could ensure Arsenal can remain serious contenders for the title even if they are without Jesus for a few months…
1) Victor Osimhen
A world class attacking player who’s impressed at current club Napoli, and at former club Lille, Victor Osimhen would probably be the most ambitious and expensive target on this list.
Still, the Nigeria international is a great goal threat, as well as having the all-round ability to drift wide or drop deep if required. One of Arsenal’s rivals will surely be splashing the cash on him in the near future, so if they don’t make their move now, they may be left wondering “what if?”
2) Jonathan David
One of the finest young talents in Europe’s big five leagues at the moment, Jonathan David has shone for Lille and also had his moments for the Canadian national team at this World Cup.
Arsenal have looked at David in the past, according to Fabrizio Romano in his exclusive CaughtOffside column, so the north Londoners would do well try again for him as soon as possible as it could change the course of their season.
3) Ivan Toney
A superb talent enjoying his football in the Premier League, Ivan Toney has done the business for Brentford and could be ready to move up to the next level.
It didn’t quite happen for Toney as he chased a spot in England’s World Cup squad, but he surely has it in him to secure a big six transfer soon, and Arsenal are the one team who look like they really need him right now.
Just before the winter break, Toney scored twice for Brentford in a surprise win away to Man City – could he now end up boosting Arsenal’s title hopes again by moving to the Emirates Stadium?
4) Tammy Abraham
A divisive player who clearly has quality, but struggles for consistency, Tammy Abraham might just be worth the gamble for the Gunners, even if his second season at Roma isn’t going as well as his first.
Abraham has long been a big prospect, but he’s now approaching his peak years, so needs to deliver consistently. Arsenal could be the club to help him fulfil his potential, and if he can, that would in turn do Mikel Arteta’s side the world of good in the second half of this season.
5) Armando Broja
A fine young player who’s not currently seeing much first-team action, could this be a bit of a left of field option for Arsenal? Armando Broja would surely welcome either a loan or maybe even a permanent move, and he could be just what Arsenal need in the next six months or so.
Of course, Chelsea surely won’t want to strengthen a rival, but we’ve seen these two clubs do business a few times in recent years, with the likes of Petr Cech, Willian and David Luiz moving between both teams.
Toney? The one subject to over 300 charges by the FA on illegal betting. That Toney. He will be lucky yo play park football
Osimen? Flying at top of Italian league, yea ok.
Abraham. One freak season
Boja, cant get in a starting 11
David, the only possible for consideration in your list
David??????/
Why would you sign David when Balogun is even better than him considering that he is playing for a struggling team and yet still able to keep pace with him in performance?
Victor and tonney can do the work for us because to me we need 2 more strikers and a winger as mudrik can also do well. This cup will ours then
The team are well balanced with Jesus, and I do see a similar player in Nketiah he hurries and hassles defences he’s good at the high press and chasing down the keeper in many ways similar to Jesus. So I think he would come in and keep that same intensity and balance. However, we do need more goals the Jesus has managed but we also need someone who has experience of playing in the PL so my pick would be Toney, plus he adds Insurance for penalties. Without preseason I think it would be difficult to bring in a player without PL experience. But my backup plan would be Oisehen.
Osimhen is not going to happen in january, also too expensive. Stay clear of Jonathan David. He was invisible for Canada in the world cup. I want Ivan Toney but only if he’s not going to be legal trouble.
I think Gakpo can be better than all those
Osimhen could be perfact replacement for jesus but it’s wil be too much expesive, if arsenal gekpo with eddi and martinell we can carry on before jesus retruns
Osimhen wil be too expensive now arsenal should go gekpo and mange eddie and martineill up front before jesus retruns