Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal open Andre Silva talks over £34m transfer

By Ross Kennerley

Frankfurt's Portuguese forward Andre Silva celebrates scoring during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Eintracht Frankfurt and VfL Wolfsburg in Frankfurt, western Germany, on April 10, 2021. - - DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by Daniel ROLAND / POOL / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by DANIEL ROLAND/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Frankfurt's Portuguese forward Andre Silva celebrates scoring during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Eintracht Frankfurt and VfL Wolfsburg in Frankfurt, western Germany, on April 10, 2021. - - DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by Daniel ROLAND / POOL / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by DANIEL ROLAND/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Andre Silva
FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY – MAY 09: Andre Silva of Eintracht Frankfurt reacts during the Bundesliga match between Eintracht Frankfurt and 1. FSV Mainz. (Photo by Friedemann Vogel – Pool/Getty Images) /

Sustainability the Andre Silva Issue for Arsenal

£34m for a striker who notched 39 goal involvements in 34 Bundesliga and cup outings is an absolute steal. Outscoring Erling Haaland last season, Silva is finding form at precisely the right time as at 25 years old if he wasn’t clocking these numbers you’d fear whether he could hit the heights expected of him.

And this is the issue, as prior to finding his feet in Germany his numbers were hugely uninspiring. Mustering just two Serie A goals in 24 outings from his time with AC Milan, the club lost faith and sent him on loan to Sevilla. An improved strike rate in La Liga followed, yet Silva still only managed 11 goals for the whole season.

Since moving to Frankfurt on loan and then making the deal permanent last summer he’s blossomed. Where there is concern is whether that can be replicated elsewhere. Silva is free flowing in his side with the teammates around him and in a division not regularly lauded for its defensive quality, and the adjustment to a division like the Premier League could set back his numbers.

In terms of his qualities there is plenty of room for encouragement, though. Strong in transition, with superb penalty box movement, technical strengths in build-up play and capable of scoring a variety of goals, there is no certainty that he wouldn’t be a hit in England.

But based on his track record the struggles he’s had at other clubs poses some concerns. Financially, as mentioned, the fee (which apparently could be lower) is almost too good to refuse a he enters the final two years of his contract, but there are some reservations whether his form is sustainable in the Premier League.

Next. Get Pepe inside. dark

Equally, Arsenal’s issue right now are not at centre-forward. If the 25-year-old was still around next summer off the back of another glorious campaign then this conversation differs entirely. As it is though, if the bank is going to be broken on a striker this summer then they have to be truly special *cough* Isak *cough*.

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