When it comes to legendary players, Arsenal aren’t short of names.
Now, most fans will understandably go back to the era of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Vieira and Robert Pirès. After all, they were the stars of the Gunners’ iconic Invincibles.
However, if you were to go back just a little further, you’d end up talking about one of the most beloved players to ever pull on the famous red and white shirt: Ian Wright.
The sensational striker became the club’s all-time leading goalscorer when he netted his 179th goal in September 1997.
While it was a record later broken by Henry, it cemented the Englishman’s legacy, and if recent reports are to be believed, Andrea Berta and Mikel Arteta may soon sign someone who could be Arsenal’s new Wright.
Arsenal transfer news
So, before we get to the striker who could be the club’s new Wright, it’s worth looking at some of the other centre-forwards they are reportedly looking at, such as Benjamin Sesko.
The Slovenian has been on the Gunners’ radar since last summer, but could finally be available for around £58m this year, which might sound like a lot, but as he’s amassed 26 goal involvements in 41 games this season and is still just 21, it could be a fee that looks like a steal a few years from now.
However, it also appears as if the Gunners are after someone even more prolific than the RB Leipzig star, as they continue to be linked with the £60m Sporting CP monster, Viktor Gyokeres.
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The Swedish international has been in utterly sublime form this season and has racked up an absurd tally of 47 goals and 11 assists in 46 appearances, although aside from his eye for goal, there isn’t much he shares with Wright, which isn’t the case for Ollie Watkins.
Yes, according to a recent report from Football Transfers, Arsenal have maintained their interest in the Aston Villa star ahead of the summer window.
In fact, the report has revealed that new Sporting Director Berta pushed for the club to chase the Englishman in January, and he is again the leading force for his inclusion on their shortlist now, as he wants an ‘oven-ready’ striker to join the team.
It’s not entirely clear how much the former Exeter City gem would cost, as the Villans demanded £60m in the winter window but may well ask for less in the summer; either way, his goal record speaks for itself and Arsenal should do what they can to bring him in, especially as he could be their new Wright.
How Watkins compares to Wright
So, some of you out there may be scratching your head trying to work out why Watkins could be Arsenal’s new Wright, but rest assured, should this transfer happen, then there would be some unmistakable similarities between the two strikers.
The first is that, like the former professional, who joined the North Londoners from Crystal Palace in 1991, the Torquay-born monster would be moving to N5 from a fellow Premier League side in Villa, already having amassed plenty of experience in English football, which cannot be said of the club’s other targets.
On top of that, he’d be securing his move to the team at the older age – for a footballer – of 29, which is both unusual and similar to the former Gunners star, who turned 28 just two months after moving to Highbury.
Finally, on top of both having played for England and putting in their best performances when playing on the shoulder, the “world-class” Villa ace, as dubbed by journalist Jack Grimse, has proven that he has what it takes to score bags and bags of goals.
For example, since joining the Claret and Blue in 2020, he’s amassed a brilliant haul of 86 goals and 41 assists in 217 appearances, totalling 17259 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.7 games, or every 135.89 minutes. On that evidence, it’s hardly a surprise to see him described as “one of the best centre-forwards in Europe” by Arsenal podcaster Rohan Jivan.
Appearances
217
Starts
196
Minutes
17259′
Goals
86
Assists
41
Goal Involvements per Match
0.58
Minutes per Goal Involvement
135.89′
Ultimately, while it might cost the club a pretty penny, and he may be on the older side of players normally targeted by Arteta and Co, Watkins has proven he can perform at the highest level consistently, so Arsenal should do all they can to sign him this summer, especially as he could become their new Wright.
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