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Arsenal: Henry Onyekuru shows the right kind of mindset

By Josh Sippie

GENT, BELGIUM - FEBRUARY 11 : Henry Onyekuru Chukwuemeka forward of Eupen is challenged by Anderson Esiti midfielder of KAA Gent during the Jupiler Pro League match between KAA Gent and KAS Eupen in the Ghelamco Arena stadium on February 11, 2017 in Gent, Belgium, 11/02/2017 ( Photo by Nico Vereecken / Photonews via Getty Images)
GENT, BELGIUM - FEBRUARY 11 : Henry Onyekuru Chukwuemeka forward of Eupen is challenged by Anderson Esiti midfielder of KAA Gent during the Jupiler Pro League match between KAA Gent and KAS Eupen in the Ghelamco Arena stadium on February 11, 2017 in Gent, Belgium, 11/02/2017 ( Photo by Nico Vereecken / Photonews via Getty Images) /
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Arsenal need alternative routes to striking solutions, and Henry Onyekuru is absolutely that. He needs the highest ceiling available to him.

The goal of the summer is finding alternative ways to address the striker situation at Arsenal. Unfortunately, even with Arsene Wenger’s magic, there just aren’t going to be many top-quality strikers willing to trek to North London without Champions League football. It’s a rule of life.

Related Story: 3 Conclusions From Henry Onyekuru Signing

So the need is there to get creative. I already wrote earlier today about looking internally, to guys like Donyell Malen or, at long last, Chuba Akpom. Maybe even prolonging Lucas Perez’s stay.

But the creativity has started early, in the form of a developing transfer.

According to SkySports, Arsenal are lining up a move for Nigerian striker Henry Onyekuru, who is currently residing in the top flight Belgian League. Just 19 years old, he recently notched his 20th goal of the season and securing his place as top scorer of the season.

Onyekuru is one of those talents that is simply too big for where he resides. Playing for KAS Eupen, he has always been a crucial piece. He led them to promotion in his inaugural year in 2015 and now he is the top scorer in the league at the age of 19.

While the Nigerian has turned down moves to larger Belgian sides, links to Premier League clubs have been consistently emerging.

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The ceiling for this kid is so high, but the league that he plays in has an unfortunately low ceiling. You can only make then most of what you are given and Onyekuru has done nothing if not that. He is already an accomplished young man with what he has done both with his team and individually. He is rich in confidence and ready for that next step.

More striking options can’t possibly be a bad thing. He has experience at the professional level in a top level domestic league. What more can you ask for?

Onyekuru has a £6.8m release clause too, another testament to how highly he is thought of in the world of football.

Wenger has been tapping the Nigerian youth talent cauldron lately. It seems like when Alex Iwobi opted for Nigeria for his national team, the youth links followed. First they landed Kelechi Nwakali, now they are hoping for a Kanu-like discovery in Onyekuru.

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It’s not a world class striker. At least not yet. When you have to be clever to address your needs, these are the kinds of signings that can make managers look like geniuses. At the very least, this kid is bumping his head on the ceiling. The idea here is that Arsenal are lifting that ceiling and letting him stretch his legs in a bigger league. That’s the right idea.

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