Who will be Arsenal’s next number nine?

While Arsenal have done some really wonderful things this season, and hope to solidify that good form across the final months of the campaign, they have so much to play for in so many different ways.

Staying in the top four of the Premier League will mean that Arsenal gets into the Champions League next season, with all of the financial positives that that entails and ensures, and will mean that the team will have a greater ‘war chest’ to spend on players across the squad.

The number nine position is a glaring place to start, whether they keep Alexandre Lacazette or not. Midfield and the wings will likely get another name too, especially if Nicolas Pepe finds himself on the way out of north London; reinforcements in the form of William Saliba should mean that the centre-backs are deep and full of talent, while Hector Bellerin and Ainsley Maitland-Niles will either have to fit in somewhere as depth or ship out for good when they return from Spain and Italy respectively. Likely the latter, though.

Who will replace Eddie Nketiah and, likely, Lacazette for this team? Folarin Balogun appears to be someone Mikel Arteta wants to contend for the consistent number nine position up top, but he will almost certainly find himself alongside someone, or out on loan again – perhaps even someone considered world-class.

Arsenal will find their new centre-forward in the summer transfer market,  wherever or whoever he may be

And to be sure, there are lots of places for them to be looking. Alexander Isak of Real Sociedad, Marcus Rashford of Manchester United, Darwin Nunez of Benfica, Joao Felix of Atletico Madrid, Jonathan David of Lille, Lautaro Martinez of Inter Milan, or even maybe, we can dream, Erling Haaland of Borussia Dortmund.

Some of these names are more possible or plausible than others in my mind, and while Haaland would be beyond incredible to have, he very likely has his heart set on dominating La Liga or Manchester City first – primarily a club that can afford him. If Martin Odegaard can work his magic regarding the move, however, then all bets are off.

In the meanwhile, I think that those other names are far more reasonable to suspect could join than Haaland. I don’t know if Isak is the answer up top for Arteta, but if he should cost the same as the likes of Nunez, Felix or Martinez, then I think that those three names and talents should take priority over the Isak.

Could David be an answer? He might. He continues to dominate to varying degrees at each level and competition he plays in, and he might prove to be an option that is useful thanks to his quality and ability to play across the top in multiple positions including the Lacazette-style central pivot. But those three – Nunez, Felix and Martinez – those are three prime targets, I suspect.

And how could they not be? Each has shown great ability and tenacity this season, and while Felix has gotten hotter recently, that those ups and down happen in football as sure as in anything else. Who would I choose between those three if I had to? It would be a wonderful dilemma to have to be sure, and one would have to flip a coin or draw straws.

In all seriousness, its a difficult choice. I think that Nunez and Martinez would be incredible fits for different reasons, and I think that the Inter man could also play differing roles, which would effectively offer replacements for multiple positions in one swoop as well.

Yet Nunez has shown that he is for real this season with Benfica. The Uruguayan is performing as though he knows that he is being watched and followed by all the larger clubs. He is playing as though this tenacity and fearlessness is the only thing that he knows, and Arsenal would be wise to bring such a personality onto their side this summer. He’s a fierce and physical presence who knows where the goal is.

If you could choose two between the three, I’d say it would have to be Nunez and Martinez, as good and fair as the other players I mentioned are. Obviously, if Haaland is available and wants to come to north London, that’s a no brainer, but strongly assuming that that’s not the case, then Nunez and Martinez offer help both as number nines. Meanwhile Balogun can be an option up front in case of rotation or competition, depending on whether he stays.

Can it happen? Will it happen? Of course, it is unknown today. But should Arsenal get into the Champions League next season, the names will wish to come to north London and Arsenal just as Arteta claims they already do.

Should names like Nunez, Martinez, Haaland, Felix, Calvert-Lewin, Cody Gakpo and the lot really wish to come to play for Arsenal once again, then the rebuild will have been, in many ways, rebuilt. That would be special, and so would the effect that such players – or really any of the aforementioned – could have with this team, under this boss, and with this club going forward.