STRIKER HUNTING SEASON BEGINS

ARSENAL FORCED TO MOVE FOR FRESH TALENT

The absolute last thing I wanted heading into this North London Derby was a real show of Premier League strength against big teams yesterday.

Chelsea drew against Bournemouth, lucky not to lose.

City drew against Brentford, lucky not to lose.

Liverpool drew against Forest, probably a fair result, even if their goal was lucky.

That means Arsenal has the chance to slim Liverpool's Premier League lead to 4 points, putting a lot of pressure on that away day they have at in-form Brentford this weekend. SCARY. Feels like if we blow this, it’s over.

Arsenal hosting Spurs comes with no ifs or buts. There's one job to be done: exit with a win. If it's a big win, we dance. If it's a narrow win, we dance. If the win comes with a poor performance, we dance. But a win is the medicine we need to keep this season out of a coma.

Spurs have a lot of players out for this one. Udogie, Davies, VdV, Vicario, Forster, Udogie, Romero, Bentancur, and Werner mean they'll be limping to The Emirates.

None of it really matters in this sort of game. They'll find a way to make the game a rough afternoon. They'll be preying on a lack of confidence and hoping to get the home crowd silenced with an early goal.

Arsenal might have had two poor results, but the reality is both of those games would have had very different receptions if our players could finish. I refuse to believe that squad can go another evening like that without scoring at least 10 goals. We just need to show up with belief, the boys need to gamble, and someone needs to be a hero.

This North London Derby could power a really good run of games. Or, it could end our season and put us into a nasty rut that could put us in the pack of also-rans competing for Champions League top 4.

Arsenal should be able to put out a decent team. We'll have the majority of our back 4 available. Our midfield options have been replenished and Declan sat on the bench for United. Our issues are up front. But the only real selection issue is whether to let Raheem have another go on the right, or cave to the familiar and leave that role to Trossard.

The bad news from yesterday was that Jesus is out for a very long time... but the positive news is that Arsenal are now in the market for a striker or a wide player.

My view is that we actually don't have a single official striking option right now. Kai was bought as a left 8 and we've converted him. I think if Arsenal could pull a summer option forward, they'd do that first and foremost. Afterall, there’s not point blocking the pathway of Ethan and the left wing is looking pretty whole right now.

Vlahovic and Sesko have been on the radar before. Both clubs have purchased cover. RB Leipzig signed Noah Okafor for €25 million option to buy. Juventus just signed Randal Kolo Muani on loan (no way he moves without first team assurances). The German side is out of Champions League and there's no parachute into Europa. Juve are sitting 5th in Serie A right now and Vlahovic has 12 goals in 23 appearances. That's not a worldie return, it's the same as Kai's, not bad enough to sell... but I think the issue for them is his deal is up in 2026, so they might look to cash in now before the fee gets small.

My priority signing would be Benjamin Sesko. He's three years younger, he's more athletic, has great pace over the top, and he's just more of a chaos monster. I've also watched him bully Madrid in the knockout rounds of Champions League. You don't have to worry about someone from an RB club not having the energy to press, and I think the German league carries less of a tax when it comes to perceived pace.

That said, the club has far better data on players than you or I, and they'll know all about what Vlahovic can do. So if you can get him on a 5-month loan with an option to buy... and that buy option is closer to £40m, then maybe that looks like value after bidding £65m for him 3 years ago.

My final pitch for Sesko is he's a player on the rise - whereas it feels like Vlahovic has maybe stalled a bit and not hit the heights Juve had for him. 16 league goals, 2 in the cup... not terrible, but also not WOW.

Arsenal could also move on a winger this window. Though the only options really feeling like they could move the needle for us right now are Semenyo, who is an Arsenal fan playing at Bournemouth. Rumors are that he's available for £55m now. I also think Bryan Mbeumo is a really good player who could look way more fashionable in a better team. Both players are competing on teams that are having great seasons, so the jury is out on whether they'd move right now. You're just not convincing me that Nico Williams, at £58m and £300k a week is the guy for a system that can't produce goals... 2 all season in a much weaker league. Someone said he could do an Isak... and sure, he could, but why would we spend that sort of money and add Saka money into the mixer based on 'hope'?

I’m also not sure about Barcola. Watch the two Premier League wingers I mentioned yesterday. Strong, powerful, well balanced, up for the fight… Barcola is so sleight and meek in comparison. Sublimely talented, but probably more suited to Spain.

David Ornstein said it's unlikely anything will happen this month... my gut says the club has no choice. The biggest fear now isn't whether we can catch Liverpool, it's whether clubs with scorers behind us could move ahead of us. Moving on players now protects our title charge. It's now a necessity.

Anyway, the main focus right now is to get this North London Derby won so we can go into the Le Grove Derby against Villa with some momentum this weekend.

Right, that's me done. See you On The Whistle later. Sub up to watch the whole thing live.

P.S. So weird how many Arsenal fans seem perplexed we’d sign Zubi in the summer. He’s one of the best 6s on the planet and we’re about to lose Jorginho and Thomas Partey this summer. Why wouldn’t Partey get a new deal? Because he’s on £250k a week, outrageously injury-prone, and 32 years old. This season is the exception, not the rule, when it comes to his fitness.