Tag: Arsenal

Arsenal learn the truth about Benjamin Sesko’s release clause and expected transfer fee
11Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Premier League

Arsenal learn the truth about Benjamin Sesko’s release clause and expected transfer fee

Arsenal should have signed a top-class striker last summer, and with every grand performance by Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres, a section of the fanbase grows increasingly frustrated while watching the Gunners throw away their best chance at winning the Premier League title. But in fairness to Arsenal, they did try to sign a great young striker this past summer in Benjamin Sesko, but he ultimately decided to stay with RB Leipzig for another season. Part of that reason is because Arsenal didn't do nearly enough to convince Sesko to sign despite the massive need for a fox in the box with a towering presence who can score 20 goals in a season; they wouldn't even grant him more playing time than Kai Havertz, who is not even a real striker. Arsenal will need to get serious about sign...
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There’s no excuse for Arsenal to pass on Viktor Gyokeres now
8Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Premier League

There’s no excuse for Arsenal to pass on Viktor Gyokeres now

Everyone knew Arsenal needed to sign a new striker last summer in order to finally get over the championship hump in the Premier League, but apparently the Gunners themselves were the only ones who didn't get the memo. And now without a reliable goal-scorer through the middle to support Bukayo Saka's Premier League Player of the Season-caliber efforts, Arsenal have slipped even further in the title race despite a season-ending injury to Manchester City's Ballon d'Or winner Rodri. Instead, Liverpool have stepped up to fill the void, while Arsenal watch as Kai Havertz regresses to the mean after a fool's gold hot streak of goals. Erling Haaland's record-breaking scoring exploits have long been the difference between Man City and Arsenal in the title race, and yet Arsenal remained compl...
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The infuriating reason why Arsenal didn’t sign Benjamin Sesko
8Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Premier League

The infuriating reason why Arsenal didn’t sign Benjamin Sesko

Arsenal knew going into the summer 2024 transfer window that their biggest need, by far, was at the No. 9 position. For years, Arsenal have struggled to find a consistent goal-scoring striker ever since the abrupt decline of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Gabriel Jesus has been a great all-around forward, and Kai Havertz offers similar benefits as a center forward. But neither can reliably put away their chances, and juxtaposed with Manchester City's record-breaking striker Erling Haaland, the difference becomes decisive in a tight Premier League title race Arsenal fans had faith that their club would address this most pressing need, but, instead, they waffled, with their only attacking signing being the addition of declining Premier League veteran Raheem Sterling. RB Leipzig star Ben...
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Arsenal contemplating massive bid to steal away West Ham’s best player for a second time
5Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Premier League

Arsenal contemplating massive bid to steal away West Ham’s best player for a second time

Arsenal failed to sign a proven goal-scorer in the last summer transfer window, and they are already suffering for their hesitancy in the transfer market. The Gunners are currently fifth in the Premier League, seven points behind leaders Liverpool. Only right winger Bukayo Saka has looked capable of consistently scoring goals for Arsenal, and his injury left the Gunners rather barren in the attack. Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are both good footballers, but they are not out-and-out strikers. Meanwhile, the left wing position has been erratic, with Gabriel Martinelli yet to recover his 2022/23 form and Leandro Trossard clearly best suited for the utility backup role. Arsenal need to prioritize a top striker like Viktor Gyokeres who can threaten for 20 in a season, but they are als...
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Arsenal Transfers: Mikel Arteta wants to reunite with a world-class forward for free
4Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Premier League

Arsenal Transfers: Mikel Arteta wants to reunite with a world-class forward for free

Arsenal suffered a humbling defeat over the weekend to Newcastle, and their latest poor attacking performance is a sobering reminder that the Gunners remain a step below fellow Premier League title contenders Liverpool and Manchester City in the offensive department. While Arsenal have one of the best forwards in the world in right winger Bukayo Saka, they have failed to get consistent involvement from their other two attacking starters. Kai Havertz isn't a striker, Gabriel Jesus doesn't score at a high enough volume to start for a Premier League champion, Leandro Trossard is much better as a backup, and Gabriel Martinelli's play has fallen off a cliff since the 2022/23 season. Arsenal should have signed Viktor Gyokeres or another top striker in the summer, but, instead, their onl...
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It sounds like Arsenal will give the wrong guy a big contract extension
3Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Premier League

It sounds like Arsenal will give the wrong guy a big contract extension

Arsenal have serious questions to answer about their candidacy as Premier League title contenders in 2024/25 after a listless defeat to Newcastle, and while they can legitimately point to key injuries as a reason for their recent slide, the reality is that every club that wants to be a champion needs to overcome injuries. Defending champions Manchester City have suffered even worse injuries this season, including an ACL tear to Ballon d'Or winner Rodri that was supposed to give Arsenal a key leg up in the title race. Instead, they are falling behind Liverpool, who took advantage of slips from Arsenal and Manchester City this weekend with a comeback victory over Brighton, 2-1. Although Arsenal should be reeling from their defeat to Newcastle, manager Mikel Arteta was busy praising ...
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It’s now or never for Gabriel Martinelli at Arsenal
29Oct By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Features, Premier League

It’s now or never for Gabriel Martinelli at Arsenal

When Gabriel Martinelli first burst onto the scene for Arsenal in the 2019/20 season, there was a buzz in the air that the Gunners had just found the next big talent in world football - someone who could dominate the left wing for the next decade. As the teenage sensation's development continued, he showed glimpses of putting it all together in the 2021/22 season before exploding in the 2022/23 campaign, playing a vital role in helping Arsenal push Manchester City to their limit in the Premier League title race. Martinelli broke out as a goal-scorer that season with 15 goals, and he wasn't bad creatively either with 5 assists and a career-high 1.6 key passes per game. Dynamic on the ball, Martinelli was a menace on the left wing, cutting inside and devastating defenders in one-on-one...
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UCL Takes: Arsenal’s Gyokeres regret, Vini Jr. is the world’s best, Juve remain far off
22Oct By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Champions League, Features, LaLiga, Premier League, Serie A

UCL Takes: Arsenal’s Gyokeres regret, Vini Jr. is the world’s best, Juve remain far off

Why didn't Arsenal sign Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres? Is there any argument against Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior being the best player in world football? And are Juventus even ready to compete in the Champions League again? Juventus aren't Champions League ready Juventus have made very real strides under the management of Thiago Motta, who came to the Bianconeri as the most coveted manager in Italian football for taking Bologna to the Champions League. But even as Juve have performed better this season with more promising results individually in an attacking sense, they've still only scored 11 goals and rank as one of Serie A's worst offensive teams in the top half of the table. Furthermore, the Bianconeri are third in the league, which is the same place they were in ...
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EPL burning questions: Arsenal’s title hopes, Jadon Sancho flops, Rasmus Hojlund shines
21Oct By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Features, Premier League

EPL burning questions: Arsenal’s title hopes, Jadon Sancho flops, Rasmus Hojlund shines

Is Arsenal's status as Premier League title contenders at risk? What can Chelsea count on from Jadon Sancho? And how good is Manchester United strike Rasmus Hojlund? Read on as I attempt to answer these three burning questions from three of the Premier League's biggest clubs. Is Rasmus Hojlund better than everyone thinks? Manchester United's best player in their all-important 2-1 win over Brentford, in which Erik ten Hag's job was very likely on the line, was undoubtedly young attacker Alejandro Garnacho on the left wing. But Rasmus Hojlund was another young Manchester United attacker who also had a fantastic performance and, from the perspective of predicting future performance, may have had the most important display of any starter on the Red Devils. Hojlund was one of world f...
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EPL Top 6 Table Predictions after Liverpool outlast Chelsea, Arsenal falter, and Brighton dig in
20Oct By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Features, Premier League

EPL Top 6 Table Predictions after Liverpool outlast Chelsea, Arsenal falter, and Brighton dig in

6. Brighton Brighton have a reputation for being a high-flying team that isn't afraid to go all-out attack and take risks to score goals, particularly against the big boys, so it was good to see them dig their heels in for a gritty 1-0 win over Newcastle. That win should seal the fact that Brighton have a better and more well-rounded squad than Newcastle, who seem to have overestimated their talent in each of the past two seasons. The issue is that when you tally up the goal differential, Brighton are behind both Chelsea and Tottenham in goal difference despite being ahead of both London powerhouses in the league table. I still like Brighton's chances of holding off Tottenham for the final spot in the top six, though, because with Carlos Baleba, they have a superior midfield. Spu...
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