3 reasons why Arsenal should target Cody Gakpo in January

Oranje is the new red.

The worst fears of every Arsenal fan were realised on Tuesday when it was confirmed that striker Gabriel Jesus will be sidelined for a prolonged period after he successfully underwent knee surgery.

His extended absence sounds alarm bells across north London and may force the club to explore the transfer market in January as they try to consolidate their advantage at the top of the Premier League table.

3 reasons why Arsenal should pursue World Cup star Gakpo in the January transfer window

Dutch sensation Cody Gakpo is just one of many names currently linked to the Emirates and his impressive displays in Qatar suggest he would be a solid addition to the Gunners’ depleted attack, although Golden Boot contention could serve as another, unwelcome boost to his rising price tag.

Our paths have already crossed twice this season via the Europa League and rumoured interest indicates that they might do so again in the near future. Here are three reasons why Arsenal should target the PSV forward in the upcoming window.

#1: He can play on the wing and up front

Versatility is a virtue Arteta seeks in almost all prospective signings to improve squad depth and in-game tactical options, and this makes Gakpo a particularly compelling forward choice.

Although primarily fielded on the left wing for PSV, the 23-year-old has thrived down the middle under Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal and uses both his positional sense and incredible shot power to capitalise on any goalscoring chances – as demonstrated by his three goals in the World Cup group phase.

An abundance of technical skill and proficiency with his back-to-goal means he can function as a focal point, while his mobility and frightening burst of pace suit our fluid offensive dynamic and would see him perform equally well anywhere in the front line.

Question marks about his work rate and pressing may see him fall foul of the ‘non-negotiables’, but he largely fits the profile and will only get better with time.

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