He'd make Gyokeres better: Arsenal showing real interest in £100m PL star
da fezbet： Arsenal have spent big in transfer windows in the past, but this summer is starting to feel like something else entirely.
da supremo： At the back, Andrea Berta and Co have signed Kepa Arizabalaga and are soon to sign Christian Mosquera.
In midfield, they’ve made a significant investment in the £60m Martin Zubimendi, are being linked with Eberechi Eze, and have completed the shrewd signing of Christian Norgaard.
Then, in attack, the club are set to land Noni Madueke for around £52m and, perhaps most exciting of all, look set to make the statement signing of Viktor Gyokeres, and if reports are to be believed, they are now looking at someone who’d help him perform even better at the Emirates.
Arsenal target perfect teammate for Gyokeres
There was no doubt in the minds of most fans that, coming into this summer, Arsenal had to go all out for a new striker.
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Mikel Arteta and Co must have felt the same way, as their hunt for a number nine has been one of the biggest sagas of the window thus far.
However, once it was clear that Benjamin Sesko was being priced out of a move by RB Leipzig, the Gunners promptly turned their attention to Gyokeres.
Despite Sporting CP’s president talking a big game, it now looks like the North Londoners have got their man, for an initial price said to be just £55m.
The good news doesn’t stop there, though, as it now appears that Berta and Co are looking to sign another attacker, someone who could help the Swede perform even better at the Emirates.
At least, that is according to a recent report from journalist Ben Jacobs, who has revealed that Arsenal are keen on Anthony Gordon.
Jacobs claims that the Premier League runners-up hold a ‘genuine interest’ in the Newcastle United star, although they’d likely have to make a sale before making an offer for him.
Moreover, while there is no mention of how much he might cost in the story, reports from earlier this month claim that the Magpies could demand as much as £100m for the Englishman.
While it would be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, Gordon would undoubtedly be a level-raiser for Arsenal’s left-hand side, and someone who could help Gyokeres be even more effective.
Why Gordon would make Gyokeres even better
While there are undoubtedly a range of reasons Gordon could help Gyokeres perform at an even higher level at Arsenal next season, the most important of the lot is down to his output.
After all, if the Swedish international isn’t being supplied a steady stream of chances to convert, he’s not going to rack up the goals.
Additionally, with 13 assists to his name last season, the former Coventry City ace is reasonably creative, but if the man to his left isn’t a reliable finisher, then he won’t see his assist tally soar either.
Fortunately, over the last couple of years, the Newcastle star has proven himself to be a real threat on the wing, both as a creator and a goalscorer.
For example, since the start of the 23/24 campaign, he’s scored 21 goals and provided 23 assists in 90 appearances, totalling 6815 minutes.
In other words, the Liverpool-born “nightmare,” as he described himself, has averaged a goal involvement every 2.04 games, or every 154.88 minutes across the last two years.
In contrast, Gabriel Martinelli, who he’d likely replace, has scored 18 goals and provided 11 assists in 95 games, totalling 6204 minutes in the same period, which works out to an average of a goal involvement every 3.27 games, or every 213.93 minutes.
Gordon vs Martinelli since 23/24
23/24
Gordon
Martinelli
Appearances
48
44
Minutes
3869′
2640′
Goals
12
8
Assists
16
5
Goal Involvements per Match
0.58
0.29
Minutes per Goal Involvement
138.17′
203.07′
24/25
Gordon
Martinelli
Appearances
42
51
Minutes
2946′
3564′
Goals
9
10
Assists
7
6
Goal Involvements per Match
0.38
0.31
Minutes per Goal Involvement
184.12′
222.75′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Finally, in addition to his output, the former Everton gem also ranked in the top 15% of attacking midfielders and wingers for passes into the penalty area last season, according to FBref.
This is important because, by looking at the Swedish goal machine’s heatmap from last season, it’s evident that he likes to spend as much time in the penalty area as possible.
Therefore, to get the most out of him, his teammates need to get the ball to him in dangerous areas, which is something the Toon star could do based on that metric.
Ultimately, Gyokeres has the potential to be a game-changing signing for Arsenal, and Arteta and Co. could get even more out of him by pairing him up with Gordon.
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