Arsenal: 3 replacements for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

2. David Neres

In a search for an Aubameyang replacement, Arsenal should be looking for three broad characteristics: youth, the ability to score, and a positional flexibility that is more akin to a natural winger than crowbarred-in centre-forward. Ajax’s David Neres fits all of these categories, and then some.

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The Brazilian turned 23 earlier in March. He can play across the front line — on either wing or in behind the striker. He is quick, athletic, a terrific dribbler, and, most importantly, proven to be very productive indeed.

This season, he has only played 635 Erediviese minutes thanks to a knee injury. He has six goals and one assist in that period, which is sensational production. He has been productive over several seasons, as well. He totalled eight goals and 11 assists in 1,883 league minutes last year and a phenomenal 14 goals and 13 assists in 2,534 minutes the year before.

There are questions regarding the step up in quality from Dutch to English football. Plenty of players have excelled against the loose defending of the Dutch league, only to then flounder in a more competitive division. But Neres’ numbers are superb, he more than passes the eye test when watching him play, especially with the ball at his feet, and he is young and available.