Mikel Arteta's transfer conundrum as desperate Arsenal plan suffers double blow
Mikel Arteta's transfer conundrum as desperate Arsenal plan suffers double blow
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Mikel Arteta's long-running transfer conundrum is becoming an increasing problem for Arsenal as their season threatens to stall. A widely-held criticism of the Gunners is that their options at striker are not up to scratch. Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are currently the two senior forwards available to Arteta, though both have struggled to convince.
Havertz has registered just seven goals this season, while Jesus has only netted three times in the Premier League. With Arsenal holding ambitions of challenging for the title, those numbers are clearly not good enough. The Gunners have long been linked with making a move for a world-class striker. But Arteta has suffered two blows in the space of a week to leave their hopes of bringing one in this month in tatters.
Their top target has long been understood to be Newcastle's Alexander Isak. The Swedish striker has been a key man for the Magpies this season and capped a man of the match performance by scoring against the Gunners in Tuesday's Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.
That was the 25-year-old's 15th goal of the campaign, helping the Magpies to recover from a tough start to climb to fifth in the Premier League. While Arsenal are interested, Newcastle are believed to have slapped a £150million price tag on him. Even if Arsenal can navigate Profit and Sustainability Rules to match that fee, it is unlikely Newcastle would sanction a sale. The Tynesiders are already coming under pressure from club icon Alan Shearer to resist the Gunners.
