lorddulaarsenal football is about scoring goals. we have some issues behind the striker we can solve in how we bring the ball up. but when you are in the final third, you want players who will consistently have an advantage versus defenders - they need to have a real spike, like being faster (Michael Owen), stronger (Shearer), trickier (Vini), better into getting space (Thomas Mueller), and use these attributes to create open shots for themselves. Isak can do this with his speed and spatial awareness. the thing that is consistently apparent when i watch us is how only Saka is reliably able to make his own shots. the rest are dependent on movement, which is tough when you're facing a low block

      Claudius Agreed completely. Saka, Nwaneri and Jesus are really the only players we have that reliably create shots for themselves (and only Saka and Nwaneri have the requisite ball striking ability to take advantage of that). We desperately need to add these two qualities (shot creating ability and ball striking ability) to our front-line this summer.

      I am loving seeing some stories about how we have been scouting Jamie Gittens this year - he's got both abilities and we need to get in on him this summer before he really blows up next year IMO. He also is pretty two-footed which makes it much easier to get shots off when you don't have to always figure out a way onto your strong foot. Semenyo is another who has both abilities and I think he would be a great signing this summer. Williams has shown flashes of both but his conversion rate this year is awful compared to Gittens/Semenyo. Barcola would be the dream but I just don't foresee PSG letting him go or him forcing their hand this summer. All of these guys can get their shot whenever they want and are good ball strikers.

      It's also why I am really starting to think Ekitike would be a better move than Sesko. Ekitike is agile like Isak and looks like he can get himself free to shoot easier than Sesko, who is a lot more robotic in his movements. But I also think that if we added another shot creator on the left, with Saka on the right and potentially more time for Nwaneri in the attacking midfield, we could likely be fine with guys like Havertz/Sesko up top. Personally, I hope that if we add Sesko, we really look to pry Barcola away and if not, potentially bring in both Gittens and Semenyo. A Sesko/Barcola or Sesko/Gittens/Semenyo summer in the attack would set us up very nicely next year. Ekitike in there instead of Sesko would be even better IMO but I feel like we're pretty committed to Sesko at this point.

          samthegooner Saka, Nwaneri and Jesus are really the only players we have that reliably create shots for themselves (and only Saka and Nwaneri have the requisite ball striking ability to take advantage of that).

          It's not that Jesus doesn't have ball striking ability, it's that after creating room for a shot for himself, he decides to turn again, more often than not, back into the same defender he already turned. And it's definitely a mental thing, poor guy is just fragile mentally.

              Big Willie I don't see him strike through a ball that often when he does shoot though. Regardless, we aren't going to be able to rely on him much moving forward until 2026 anyways. Trossard has the ball striking (although hasn't shown it as often this year) but isn't able to get free as easily.

                @samthegooner -- you're winning me over on Ekitike!

                That said, I do think Sesko is a very willing runner and could wreak havoc by getting onto through balls from Odegaard. The issue is that we're seeing teams sitting deeper and deeper vs us, and those chances are disappearing.

                  In regards to Zubimendi not exciting a few of us -- I would imagine that has as much to do with concerns around him (further) slowing down our game, rather than his quality. Zubimendi at 8 and Rice at 6 feels like another season of Arteta horseshoe ball with results overly reliant on Odegaard/Saka going off. I don't see that midfield improving our left flank or easing the pressure on our CF.

                    MistaT I agree- either one of them will make us better IMO. I just love Ekitike's ability on the ball from what I've seen this year. He moves just like Isak to me. Sesko does look to be the better finisher but there's just something about me that makes me concerned he might not have that alpha personality that a top striker needs. But I'll take either of them happily this summer.

                        Yeah I think we all would be.

                        Sesko available for £62-66 million according to Sky. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13321953/benjamin-sesko-transfer-rb-leipzig-striker-attracting-premier-league-interest-as-release-clause-revealed

                        Good to hear Spurs have little chance 😆 I think Sesko is the 1 Arteta wants. 6"5 and pretty quick. His poundland Haaland. Seems to score a nice variety of goals as well but will certainly take him time to adapt to the PL and I don't think he would hit the ground running but he should have lots of room for improvement and growth

                        I only saw him at the Euros like most strikers thought he wasn't able to do much without the service however, he is still very young, physically impressive and won't be carrying the burden alone. Being able to share it with Havertz should ease some of the pressure on both of them.

                        Even if he flops he is young enough that we probably would be able to recoup a good chunk of our money. So just get it done basically.

                        Newcastle are never selling Isak don't even bother wasting our time.

                          Panda His poundland Haaland.

                          Sadly not cheaper than Haaland though! 😂

                          All things considered though, I'd say that's a decent price in this market. See no reason why won't get him in the summer unless we decide to move for someone else.

                            Osimhen would get injured after about 15 minutes of Premier League football.