The young man Ethan Nwaniri He has undoubtedly been the biggest beneficiary of the unfortunate injury to star player Bukayo Saka, starting in each of the last two matches. Premier League matches in his absence.
The 17-year-old showed he can make the leap from academy football to Arsenal's first team, as he scored the opening goal in the draw against Brighton on Saturday.
His strike was his Second in the league this seasonadding to his tally after his first goal against Nottingham Forest in a 3-0 win over their top four rivals at the Emirates Stadium in November.
There are high expectations that the current generation of strikers will step up to the plate following Saka's recent setback, which could see Nwanyere given more responsibility in the coming months.
However, the January transfer window is now open, to introduce the coach Mikel Arteta With the opportunity to strengthen the club's already impressive attacking department.
Arsenal's attempts to sign Matheus Cunha in January
Brazilian striker Matthews Cunha He has greatly impressed relegation-threatened Wolverhampton Wanderers in recent months and has undoubtedly served as their bright light in a dark period.
The 25 year old has He scored ten goals and recorded four assists In 19 league games he has played so far, which has led to Arsenal seeking to sign the former Atletico Madrid talent.
It was reported last week that Arteta's men were planning the deal To pry the striker away from Molineux to help boost their slim title ambitions at the end of 2024/25.
However, any deal for his services now appears to be in real danger, as journalist John Percy has confirmed He is now in talks to extend his current deal in the West Midlands – halting any chances of the striker securing a move next January.
As a result, it seems as if the hierarchy will have to look elsewhere for potential options if they are to gain the firepower required over the past two months.
It is now possible to reignite interest in one player who could prove to be a better addition than Cunha, especially when delving into their respective numbers this season.
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Possible replacement for Matheus Cunha at Arsenal
Over the last week or so, Arsenal He is credited with signing Feyenoord striker Santiago Jimenez after the Mexican's impressive start to the season.
The 23-year-old has He scored ten goals in 14 matches In all competitions, including twice in three Champions League matches – showing his ability to play at the highest level.
He looked certain to move to Forest in the summer after the Reds He submitted multiple bids for his servicesBut he decided to stay in the Netherlands, which now opens the door to a possible move to the Emirates in the coming weeks.
It is not known how much they would want to lose their star striker, but his quality is there for all to see, as he offers many stats ahead of them – making him an even better addition to Arteta's squad.
Jimenez, who previously called him “unstoppable.” Talent scout Jacek KulejHe may have scored fewer goals in the league but he has Better goal per 90 scored With a higher success rate of shots on goal – demonstrating his clinical superiority in front of goal.
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How does Jimenez compare to Cunha in the 2024/25 season |
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|---|---|---|
|
Statistics (per 90) |
Jimenez |
Being |
|
Games played |
9 |
19 |
|
Goals and assists |
7 |
14 |
|
Goals at 90 |
0.92 |
0.58 |
|
Shots on goal |
1.5 |
1.2 |
|
Accuracy of shooting on target |
50% |
39% |
|
Antennas won |
1.1 |
0.4 |
|
Air success rate |
41% |
33% |
|
Statistics via FBref |
||
He also won the A higher percentage of his air battlesmanaging more shots on target per 90, which would provide Arteta with that striker he desired, increasing the odds of challenging runaway leaders Liverpool.
Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus often share responsibility at the top end of the pitch, but they are not a typical number nine, and often like to drop deep to link up play, leaving a gap for a focal point at the top end.
Jimenez will certainly provide just that, as he has shown his excellent fox-like nature in the box during his Eredivisie appearances over the past few months.
Such a move would also allow Nwaniri to flourish further, enabling him to create opportunities for the striker who likes to work between the posts, thus boosting his assist tally and making him a more valuable asset for Arsenal.
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