The Arsenal results train continues. Despite injury, noise, and criticism, Mikel Arteta continues to produce results. It is the sort of stuff required to compete with Manchester City.
Arsenal not only remain in touch with Liverpool and Pep Guardiola, but they also appear to be poised to advance in the Champions League and dispatch lower league competition in the Carabao Cup. However, there is still a sense that Arsenal are far from being at their peak just yet.
This is a positive thing in general. With fitness difficulties making regular selections difficult, the aim is that Arteta can hone his performances to match results in the coming months.
Duran transfer urge
Arsenal have been advised to explore a move for Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran following his impressive start to the season. Duran has eight goals this season despite only starting two games in all competitions after a summer of heated transfer speculation, with Chelsea and West Ham both interested in signing him.
🚨 Arsenal have registered an interest in signing Jhon Durán from Aston Villa this January.
(Source: @MailSport)
How much do you think he's worth? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/jgHidFth9w
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) October 23, 2024
Following his incredible scoring outburst, Villa signed the Columbian to a long-term contract. However, former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira has stated that he is the ideal striker for Arteta to bring in.
“I enjoyed his performance against Bayern Munich,” Vieira told bettingexpert.com. “He’s the right player for Arsenal – quick, unselfish, solid in the air, technically skilled, and intelligent in his movement.”
The former Crystal Palace boss went on to say, “The question is whether Arsenal can achieve their goals with a genuine goalscorer or a false No. 9.” Havertz has done well since the season began and has the potential to fill that role. But, as Manchester City demonstrated, having a pure striker like Haaland makes winning games easier.”
football.london says: Look, if Arsenal had signed Duran in the summer and used him as a rotation/backup centre forward, this could have worked, but it’s no longer an option. He was going to cost £35 million for a small sample size of top-level football, no matter how impressive, so that can be more than quadrupled immediately.
Duran will not be content with merely making substitute appearances for the rest of his career, but he is so good off the bench that he is currently focused on improving and developing a well-rounded game. Unai Emery has proven himself capable of accomplishing this.
Arsenal could have been dynamite if they had signed Duran sooner, but there was no indication that they were considering him. He resembles Benjamin Sesko, which is an intriguing point; as someone raw, tall, quick, and with a devastating shot, Duran could have been a fantastic choice.
After the Sesko dream faded – he now has more of a touch and play to his game – Arsenal did not pursue another striker. Duran was right there, available. It would have been a lot of fun and a great game changer for Arteta to rely on.
