It’s been a rather cataclysmic campaign for Arsenal, who at the turn of the year were odds-on for the title and looked pretty much unstoppable. Unfortunately for the Gunners, the problem in the end was a similar outcome to previous campaigns- they were responsible for their own downfall.
With fan criticism of Arsene Wenger at an all-time high, Arsenal need wholesale changes this summer to build a squad that’s competitive in England and in Europe- and it’s got even harder by the rise of Leicester, Spurs and West Ham, whilst Chelsea have Antonio Conte, Liverpool have Jurgen Klopp and Manchester City have Pep Guardiola.
It’s not all doom and gloom though, as Arsenal are eyeing some exciting transfers- most notably the addition of £25m-rated Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi, who is also being chased by rivals Chelsea and Manchester United.
That puts more pressure on the Gunners and it’s a race they can’t afford to miss out on- and we’ve explained in detail why that’s the case.
Hit Icardi below to see FIVE reasons why Arsenal can’t afford to miss out on his signature!
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Goals
The main reason any club buys a striker is to improve their output in scoring goals- and it’s an area where Arsenal desperately need to improve as their top-scorers, Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez, both have 12 goals this term.
With 59 goals in the Premier League this season, Arsenal are the least prolific side in the top-four by a long shot and a team inside the top-ten have netted more than the Gunners, with West Ham having netted 60 goals.
Icardi’s tally of 15 goals in the Serie A is better than Giroud and Sanchez’ haul this season, whilst it’s just five-shy of what Giroud has managed across all competitions.
Perhaps Icardi isn’t the most prolific of forwards right now but there’s certainly potential, which brings us onto our next point.
Young and exciting
At 23-years-old, Icardi has the ability to lead Arsenal’s line for the foreseeable future and there’s every chance the Argentine will continue to improve. With 15 goals at Inter this season, you’d expect him to better than tally in front of a player like Mesut Ozil.
His overall record in Serie A with Inter is an astonishing 46 goals in 87 appearances, whilst he previously netted 11 goals in 33 game for Sampdoria. With Giroud having 53 goals in 113 Premier League appearances, it shows just how good Icardi’s record is.
As mentioned, Icardi will only get better and the fact that’s he’s a former member of Barcelona’s academy makes him even more exciting.
Resale value
It’s not something fans like to hear when talking about a player who could be joining but resale value is a massive part of football, as it gives a club an escape if things don’t pan out. If Icardi was to sign and flop, Arsenal would still be able to get a decent amount for his services.
On the other hand, if Icardi develops as many expect him too then he could end up being worth an astronomical price- especially given the rate of the transfer market at the moment and how quickly prices for players rise.
Financially, it’s a deal that makes sense.
Statement of intent
Spending £25m on a player is a statement of intent in itself, particularly as it would be one of Arsenal’s most expensive signings in history, but beating Manchester United and Chelsea to the player’s services would make things even better.
Arsenal won’t want to see a top-target plying their trade for another side and if Arsenal were to miss out on the player it would certainly come back to haunt them. On the other hand, if they were to win the race for his services it would be a major kick in the teeth for their rivals.
Go all out, get this man early and reap the benefits- it’s a no brainer.
Appease supporters
Perhaps the most crucial of reasons behind pushing for a big-name striker, Arsenal fans are on the brink of all out mutiny given their displays over the past month. If the Gunners act late in the transfer market, questions will be asked.
Arsenal know where they need to strengthen and the players are out there, so there’s no use waiting around. Sure, a big player might become available later in the window but there’s no guarantee that will be the case.
With Arsenal having made just three senior signings in the past three windows, fans will understandably be expecting a more active summer.
