Arsenal consider Dominic Calvert-Lewin transfer u-turn

While Arsenal are up at the right end of the table battling hard for a top four finish ahead of Manchester United and Tottenham, matters at the other end just heated up.

Burnley’s 3-2 comeback win over Everton consigned Frank Lampard to his seventh defeat in just nine Premier League matches, plunging them deeper into a relegation fight they don’t appear to have to tools to claw their way out of.

Someone who it was felt could help rescue them from their slump was Dominic Calvert-Lewin, a striker who has been held in high regard in London Colney corridors for a number of months. Arsenal’s interest has been long-standing, with reports emerging last season, and that hadn’t seemed to die down. Indications were that he was among the main targets.

It’s now nine league outings without a goal for Calvert-Lewin and the mood has changed.

https://twitter.com/premierleague/status/1511811008418959364

Arsenal consider Dominic Calvert-Lewin transfer u-turn with Arteta cooling his interest in Everton striker after poor Premier League form

On the one hand there needs to be context attributed to his current situation. Everton are a horrendous football team with mid-table Championship defenders and a mid-table Championship manager. Most strikers in world football would struggle to score in this side.

Calvert-Lewin – now undoubtedly back fully fit – is nevertheless struggling for form. The Toffees need their talisman players to step up and he hasn’t.

Arsenal are well aware of Everton and Calvert-Lewin’s plight, with the Telegraph stating that the Gunners have taken a u-turn with their interest cooling over recent weeks.

With the supposed list of striker targets ranging anywhere from four up to fourteen, one constant throughout has been the 25-year-old’s name. A fine season last term where netted 21 goals in all competitions was followed up with one in each of his opening three this term under previous boss Rafa Benitez.

Injury cut his 2021 short and he’s looked a shadow of himself since. For an Arsenal side wanting a centre-forward who is experienced at the top level and of an age to suit the young squad that has been assembled, Calvert-Lewin fits the bill. But from the perspective of quality, it’s hard to see what traits the Yorkshireman has that Arsenal sorely crave.

He isn’t technically astute, nor multi-dimensional in his play. While there is something to work with, for the £60m or so being quoted it’s another matter.

However, with the way results are going under Lampard, if it comes down to Arsenal being the side who relegate Everton on the final day then that figure could easily drop by half if not more. In that case, Arsenal might have a change of heart.