Arsenal have intensified their search for a new striker as Mikel Arteta has made signing one a top priority. PSV Eindhoven’s Cody Gakpo is now on the radars of Arsenal who are looking to strike a deal for him in the summer. Gakpo is in some scintillating form for the Dutch side, catching the attention of many. But Arsenal are reportedly accelerating their process of signing the 22-year-old.
Arsenal are in a dire need of striker after star-man Aubameyang left in January. Only Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah remained the options upfront for the Gunners. However, neither of them has delivered piling on miseries on the North Londoners. Moreover, their contracts expire in the summer with exits looming over their future. As a result, Arsenal are working on war-footing to secure Cody Gakpo before the start of next season.
According to Voetbal International, Arsenal are hot favourites to land Cody Gakpo. The PSV captain has ripped the opposition’s backline apart, scoring 18 goals and assisting 15 in 42 appearances. That is a massive 0.78 direct goal involvements per game. Furthermore, Gakpo boasts a breathtaking 2.8 successful dribbles and almost 3 shots on target per game in 22 league outings. Therefore, its more than evident that the youngster will provide a lot of goal threat. Gakpo is priced around £35 million by PSV, a fee well within the reach of the Gunners.
Gakpo to Arsenal could alter Martinelli’s role
Though it looks as if Arsenal will finally get their hands on a goal-poaching striker, there is a catch here. Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli could undergo a positional change post arrival of Gakpo. Martinelli currently plies his trade on the left-wing, producing some blistering performances. However, Cody Gakpo is adept at the left wing as well. Arsenal are reportedly exploring the options of utilising Gakpo’s wing qualities, rather than playing him as a striker.
Gakpo too has mainly played on the left-wing for PSV. Moreover, 29 of his 33 goal involvements [16 goals and 13 assists] have come as a left-winger. Arsenal are planning to promote Martinelli as the number-9, supported by Gakpo and Saka from the wings. There’s substantial evidence to this as football.london have reported that Martinelli has been often deployed as a striker in Arsenal’s training sessions.
Though the Brazilian has struggled in front of goal with his finishing, Arteta hopes to help him with the same. The Arsenal manager believes Martinelli could prove to be a lethal forward once his attacking threat sharpens. And thus, Cody Gakpo would thrive on the left-wing which tends to be his best position. But nonetheless, Gakpo has decent qualities to play as the striker as well.
Meanwhile, the Gunners are also interested in Gakpo’s fellow Eredivisie player Luis Sinisterra per Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport. Sinisterra likewise Gakpo has caught the attention of Arsenal after his breakthrough season with Feyenoord. The Colombian has notched up a mammoth 21 goals and 11 assists in 42 games for Feyenoord. Sinisterra is regarded highly as well by Arsenal, but Gakpo reportedly is favoured. Moreover, Sinisterra lacks the ability of playing as as striker, where the PSV captain triumphs.
Follow us on Twitter for more Football Updates.
