Even though this season has been a painfully disappointing one for Arsenal, there have been at least a few positives to come from it.
One of them has been the continued development of Declan Rice, who now looks entirely at home in his left-eight role and is arguably one of the club’s most important players.
For example, even though the team have not been as free-flowing as they were last year, the Englishman has still been able to rack up a seriously impressive haul of eight goals and ten assists in 50 games, was immense in both legs against Real Madrid and has a genuine shout for being the best signing of the Mikel Arteta era.
However, if recent reports are to be believed, he may soon have some more competition for that title, as the club could soon, at the very least, make their best signing since the former West Ham United captain.
Arsenal transfer news
In the last few weeks, Arsenal have been linked to several top-quality players who could become their best signings since Rice, such as Rafael Leao and Benjamin Sesko.
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The former is reportedly available for around £85m, which would instantly make him one of the Gunners’ most expensive acquisitions ever, but as he’s racked up 12 goals and 13 assists in 48 games this season, he’d likely be worth it.
On the other hand, Sesko would cost a little less, at around £67m, but again, that’s more than a fair price tag, as in just 44 games for RB Leipzig, he’s scored 21 goals and provided six assists.
Yet, to really have a chance of being the club’s best signing since Rice, the prospective player needs to be truly remarkable, game-breaking even, which is where Viktor Gyokeres comes in.
According to a recent report from respected journalist David Ornstein, Arsenal have maintained their strong interest in the Sporting CP star.
Ornstein further explains that the Swedish international is someone that new Sporting Director Andrea Berta “really likes,” but that the club may need to speed up their pursuit of him in light of interest from other teams like Manchester United.
A potential price tag is not mentioned in the report, but stories from earlier this week revealed that the Gunners have already submitted an offer in the region of £63m, which could be seen as too low for a player with a £85m release clause.
It could be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but with how well he’s played over the last couple of years, one more than worth fighting for.
Why Gyokeres would be Arsenal's best signing since Rice
There are likely a number of reasons why Gyokeres could end up being Arsenal’s best signing since Rice, from the boost he’d provide the team to how the commercial revenue of signing a sought-after-striker at the peak of his powers.
However, every positive about signing the Swedish international stems from one thing: his output.
Yes, it might be rather simplistic, but ultimately, what the Gunners need more than anything else this summer is someone who can put the ball in the back of the net on a consistent basis, and if the last two seasons are anything to go by, that’s something the Sporting star can do with his eyes closed.
For example, in 50 appearances last season, the 26-year-old “powerhouse,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, scored a staggering 43 goals and provided 15 assists, which came out to an average of 1.16 goal involvements every game.
Then, instead of plateauing, he’s got even better this season and currently has a tally of 52 goals and 13 assists in 50 appearances, which comes out to a frankly absurd average of 1.3 goal involvements per game. It’s safe to say he’s a true “monster” in the worlds of journalist Alex Turk
Appearances
50
50
Minutes
4169′
4038′
Goals
43
52
Assists
15
13
Goal Involvements per Match
1.16
1.3
Minutes per Goal Involvement
71.87
62.12;
Finally, on top of doing the business at club level, the Stockholm goal machine has also been a tour de force for the national side, racking up a haul of 15 goals and six assists in just 26 appearances, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.23 games.
Ultimately, to become Arsenal’s best signing since Rice, a player has to come in and utterly transform the side while pushing them closer to glory, and if Gyokeres can replicate even 50% of his Sporting output in North London, then he’ll do just that.
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