Arsenal’s failure to recruit January reinforcements appears extra misjudged by the week after information emerged of Kai Havertz’s season-ending damage.
The German worldwide tore his hamstring through the Gunners’ warm-weather coaching camp in Dubai and can be sidelined for the rest of the marketing campaign. Additional exacerbating Mikel Arteta’s relentless health points, the 25-year-old has joined fellow forwards Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka within the therapy room.
With Havertz and Jesus not returning earlier than the top of the 2024/25 season, Arsenal now have a disaster on their palms. They may don’t have any orthodox strikers out there for the rest of the marketing campaign, with solely Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling and Ethan Nwaneri at the moment out there throughout the ahead line.
With the winter window having handed, Arsenal can be compelled to advertise youth or flip to the free agent market to treatment their points. The latter may very well be a real choice for the injury-stricken Gunners, who’re in no place to be choosy over emergency cowl.
Listed below are six free agent forwards Arsenal may signal to ease their woes.
Wissam Ben Yedder carved out a status as one among Ligue 1’s most prolific sharpshooters throughout his spell at Monaco. He scored 118 occasions in 201 appearances for the principality aspect earlier than his contract expired final summer season.
Nonetheless, he has since been handed a two-year suspended jail sentence after being discovered responsible of sexual assault in November 2024. Signing the 34-year-old can be a extremely controversial determination.
It is laborious to consider that Maxi Gomez is and not using a membership at simply 28 years of age after the highly effective Uruguayan striker – who has 32 nationwide group appearances underneath his belt – was tipped for stardom following a formidable stint at Celta Vigo.
He scored 30 objectives in two seasons with the Spanish aspect earlier than a swap to Valencia, the place his goalscoring numbers dropped considerably. Gomez discovered the online 23 occasions throughout three full campaigns earlier than shifting to Trabzonspor in Turkey, with a year-long mortgage spell at Cadiz final time period proving unsuccessful as he blanked in all 33 appearances for the membership.
The truth that Gomez failed to attain a single objective final season is alarming however the cumbersome striker may show helpful in offering Arsenal with a focus up prime.
Mariano Diaz was one other tipped for nice success in Spanish soccer after rising from Actual Madrid Castilla. After scoring 32 occasions in 44 appearances for the reserves, he was promoted to the senior squad and managed 5 objectives in 14 appearances in 2016/17.
An immensely profitable season adopted on mortgage at Lyon – the Dominican Republic worldwide netted 21 occasions – however he was by no means capable of carve a reputation for himself on the Santiago Bernabeu upon his return to Madrid. Diaz finally left for Sevilla completely in 2023/24, the place he failed to attain in a mere 13 appearances.
The 31-year-old has been and not using a membership ever since and wouldn’t be an inspiring addition for Arsenal supporters, even when he proved a reliable deputy at occasions throughout his spell with Madrid
Nicely, this is able to be tasty, would not it?
Diego Costa, previously of Chelsea fame, has been unattached for the reason that finish of final calendar 12 months, most not too long ago representing Botafogo and Gremio in Brazil. In fact, he additionally made a quick return to England with Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2022/23, scoring simply as soon as in 25 outings with the Previous Gold.
Costa’s fiery nature and imposing physique all the time ensures he is a handful for opposition centre-backs, however that is now a participant barely recognisable from his glory days with Chelsea. He is scored a couple of throughout his South American stint, however the 36-year-old’s ineffectiveness at Molineux speaks volumes.
Lucas Perez is a well-recognized identify for Arsenal supporters. The Spaniard briefly turned out for the Gunners, making simply 21 appearances and scoring seven throughout his 12 months with the membership. A equally brief spell with West Ham United was adopted by a return to Spain and most not too long ago Deportivo La Coruna – the place he had initially made his identify.
The 36-year-old was taking part in for the now second division Spaniards as not too long ago as January, scoring 4 objectives and offering as many assists through the first half of 2024/25. Nonetheless, he left initially of the 12 months as a consequence of private causes.
Carlos Vela is one other former Arsenal man. The 35-year-old made 59 appearances for the Gunners after arriving in north London as a highly-rated prospect from Mexico initially of his profession, however found his mojo throughout 5 years with Actual Sociedad.
Vela left San Sebastian for the US in 2018 as he joined LAFC in MLS. He thrived with the membership, scoring 93 occasions in 188 appearances for them, taking part in as each a winger and striker throughout his time in North America.
A return to the Emirates Stadium appears extremely unbelievable, nevertheless.
