Arteta’s Arsenal selections drop striker transfer hint

The Profile of Striker Arsenal Need is Tough to Nail Down

Playing these two good friends in the same team indicates that Arteta wants a bit of both in his future centre-forward. That is the primary takeaway, but no one player can be everything all at once: a lethal runner in behind and deadly finisher, as well as a pivoting tool to bring others into play and be physically dominant?

While it’s a lot to ask, the interest in Tammy Abraham over the summer, someone who has touches of all those traits, provided further indication of his thinking.

Which route Arteta goes down will be fascinating. Having signed players who are technically and tactically flexible, there is the possibility that he ventures towards the Pep Guardiola way of thinking and effectively signs a midfielder who can finish. Seeing Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling, Ferran Torres and Kevin De Bruyne all play as the most advanced player in the City side, given the signings made in north London there is every chance that Arteta follows suit.

A connective striker, more along the lines of Lacazette, but who is faster and more threatening in the box, is one way to go.

But what about a version of Aubameyang that has more presence? Links to the likes of Dusan Vlahovic have been around, and someone of his ilk offers an entirely different set of attributes to this current crop. The Serbian is built like a house, is a ferocious finisher and can dominate on the ground and in the air.

While the perfect striker does not exist, there are those who come close.

An ‘Aubazette’ hybrid would suit all needs, and Arteta fielding both in his starting lineups indicates that his next major purchase will be someone with elements of each, but the possibility is there to lean more towards one than the other in a decision that can have a transformative impact on how this team plays.

It will be the marquee signing, surely. Waiting to find out who is hugely interesting.