Arsenal eye stunning £60m Calvert-Lewin transfer swoop

Issues of Technical Quality With Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Highly technical players all working in tandem with one another is part and parcel of the modern era of Arsenal. Wenger built his latter teams on that and Arteta’s usage of Smith Rowe, Saka and Odegaard in a possession-based system aims to find its own variation of that.

Calvert-Lewin has a decent first touch, but is he quite astute enough technically? While he continues to improve with each week of Premier League football under his belt, the primary concern over his profile is that he’s not as crisp on the ball as the ideal Arsenal striker could be.

His best form also came under Ancelotti in an ugly wing-back system with two strikers. Forming a strong bond with Richarlison, having the man to run off him or connect with him in attack brought the best out of him, and two strikers is not the way Arsenal set up. Of course, for England he’s shown himself capable of being a lone striker and he started this season with aplomb, but when reading his numbers from last term there needs to be some context.

Arsenal have to get the best out of Odegaard. A big investment, it’s growing more apparent that Aubameyang and him are not the best fit. Someone like Calvert-Lewin who he can bounce off does, on paper, seem suited. However, he could be limited with his vision in behind for a striker who isn’t slow, but not blessed with pace.

A far as finance is concerned, Arsenal are looking at a cool £60m. That is the figure being banded about and with Everton hoping to push through with their annual squad rebuild, they will be reluctant to let him go. He’s under contract until 2025.

That isn’t to say he’s not a player to admire. There is a lot to like about Calvert-Lewin, from his physical profile, refined finishing techniques and general character on and off the pitch, and if ‘this’ mould of striker is the one Arteta is after then few fit the profile as well as this 24-year-old homegrown option with a proven track record in the Premier League.

Jonathan David – who is profiled at length here – is also listed in the aforementioned report as someone Arsenal are tracking, on a list that is sure to be extensive. And, just maybe, a list that is being moved ahead to the January window.