ARSENAL'S STRIKER CONUNDRUM

We are about to enter my favourite time of the year. And no, it is not the end of the year holiday season. It is the summer transfer window. The time of the year when I get to dream, debate and decide how to manage the existing Arsenal squad. It is indeed a fun activity as long as you don’t get fooled by every random transfer rumour/link.

The biggest task for Arsenal this summer is finding the perfect number 9. A task that has been put on the back burner for the last 2 years. The perfect centre-forward for Arsenal probably doesn’t exist. Or if he does, he’s a ghost - a figment of every fan’s idealized version of what a number 9 should look like under Mikel Arteta.

In an ideal world, it’s Alexander Isak. He’s the golden goose, the perfect heir to that number 14 jersey at Arsenal. Tall, elegant, technically gifted, he can drift wide, dribble, combine, and still get into the box to produce that Henryesque finish. The striker feels tailor-made for our system, but the surrounding financials are far from ideal. Isak’s price is unrealistic, and Newcastle wouldn’t dare strengthen a direct rival unless they were in financial chaos. And with Newcastle in the Champions League next season we can definitely park the dream. I only say park because there’s always next season.

Then you get into the real debates. The one that is currently driving everyone in the fanbase to lose their minds.

There’s the Benjamin Šeško camp. A young, raw, high-ceiling forward who hasn’t peaked yet. He’s not the finished article, but the idea of moulding him into a long-term fit has its appeal, especially under a coach like Arteta. But with that comes its own risk. He’s not Premier League-proven, and a club like Arsenal can’t really afford a long bedding-in period right now. This project is currently in that phase where whoever comes in the summer needs to provide an immediate impact.

Then there’s Viktor Gyökeres. Ruthless in front of goal, physically dominant, and producing monster numbers in Portugal. But - and no disrespect to the Portuguese league - there’s always that question mark: does it translate? Can he do it in the Premier League? The numbers are crazy, but the context matters. The type of goals and the manner in which he has scored is not a given in the Premier League and especially when playing for a team like Arsenal. But there’s always talk about his unwavering determination, commitment to self-improvement, and strong work ethic. So, if he’s a mentality monster and that’s key, then he’ll force it to translate. And what better coach to work under than Mikel Arteta, who lives for mentality monsters!

You can also throw in Osimhen. On paper, he’s elite - power, presence, goals, profile. But it reminds me a bit of the Ivan Toney situation from last season. Back then, Toney felt like the perfect 9 for us. But despite all the noise, none of the big clubs really moved. It’s the same with Osimhen now. And when no one’s really engaging in a deal for a striker of that quality, it raises a question: what’s off? There’s always something we’re not seeing - whether it’s wage demands, agent complications, injury records, or something deeper. So while Osimhen looks like a statement signing, I’m not sure Arsenal ever truly bite.

But for me, I sit in the Ollie Watkins camp.

It’s not flashy. It’s not going to break the internet. But to me, it makes the most sense. Premier League proven, intelligent movement, tireless pressing, links well with others and, crucially, he’s still improving. Add to that the fact that he’s a boyhood Gunner, so this would be his dream move, and he would even take a paycut to join Arsenal. I can absolutely see him thriving in this system, especially with the group of players we have around him.

And there’s also this: World Cup year. It’s a big motivating factor that people might underestimate in a Watkins transfer. He knows this is his shot to lock in a major tournament spot. The combination of motivation and system fit makes him a really compelling option even if it doesn’t spark headline hysteria.

Speaking of which, this is where the bigger picture comes in.

I’m of this belief: Arsenal don’t need to go crazy on a centre-forward. Arteta’s system is the real king. So a Premier League proven no. 9 in Watkins would be more than good enough. This also allows Arsenal to add more quality in other attacking positions. When it comes to scoring goals, Arteta’s Arsenal have always been a collective with players chipping in goals across the front line and even across the entire XI.

And the truth is, no matter which striker you favour - Šeško, Gyökeres, Watkins - the main thing is that all of them improve our attack in different ways. You can debate which one fits best, but let’s not forget the foundation we’re building from. This team is ready for a title push. What we need now is precision, not panic.

Berta and Arteta already have their list. And going by previous seasons, it’ll come down to mentality, adaptability, and system fit more than anything else. If we sign one of these names, I'll back it. But for now, I’ll stay in my Watkins camp - quietly confident it could be a signing that brings a lot more than it seems on the surface.

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P.S. What if it’s Šeško AND Gyökeres/Šeško AND Watkins? I will leave you with that to ponder!