'He could be perfect for them’ - Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic backed as ideal option for Arsenal in January
Updated 24/01/2025 at 07:26 GMT
TNT Sports pundits Owen Hargreaves and Steve McManaman have urged Arsenal to sign a striker this January. The Gunners sit in second place in the Premier League and are all but through to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League. However, they have recently been rocked by injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka, leading some supporters to urge Mikel Arteta to bring in reinforcements.
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TNT Sports pundit Owen Hargreaves believes Dusan Vlahovic could be a perfect fit for Arsenal.
Gunners supporters are urging Mikel Arteta to splash the cash on a striker this January.
Goals have dried up at the Emirates Stadium following an injury to Bukayo Saka, who has been joined on the sidelines by Gabriel Jesus.
Speaking on the Goals Show Xtra on TNT Sports, Hargreaves identified an ideal replacement.
"Juventus have just signed [Randal Kolo] Muani," he said. "You would think maybe Vlahovic could be an option?
"He could be perfect for them, with his profile."
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Vlahovic may have fallen down the pecking order in Turin following Kolo Muani's arrival from PSG.
The striker has netted 12 goals for Juve this season, although he is currently on a five-game drought.
Arsenal, on the other hand, had netted just five times in as many outings before a 3-0 UEFA Champions League success against Dinamo Zagreb.
Kai Havertz has been trying to fill the void left by Saka and Jesus, and he was on target on Wednesday night.
TNT Sports' Steve McManaman does not think that should stop Arteta from looking for some reinforcements though.
"Unfortunately, if you're not winning every game, people criticise," he said.
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"People criticise Liverpool and certain players for Liverpool and they're sitting top of everything at this moment in time, in all four competitions.
"If a chance is missed, and it's missed by Kai, they need a centre forward.
"After tonight, let's hope he gets a little bit of love off everybody, but no doubt it'll change when it's a Premier League game if they don't win.
"They need a centre forward. They've needed a centre forward for a number of years now. Everybody says it at the beginning of the year.
"You don't want it to come true. You want everybody to be proved wrong.
"But the more they miss chances, the more people are going to say, 'we desperately need another centre forward'."
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Victory over Dinamo all but secured Arsenal's place in the last 16 of the Champions League.
They also sit second in the Premier League, although a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa at the weekend saw the gap up to first-placed Liverpool extend to six points.
The transfer window closes on February 3, and McManaman added that money might be a barrier to making their first addition of the window.
"Who is to say that there is somebody out there who they can get, first and foremost," he added.
"You speak about [Victor] Osimhen, you speak about [Benjamin] Sesko, you don't know whether you can get them at this moment in time.
"Likewise you don't know if they've got the finances to bring them in at this particular time."
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'Fetishisation of control'
TNT Sports expert James Horncastle is unsure whether an out-and-out centre forward is on Arteta's radar though.
The Gunners still have the likes of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli to choose from.
They also regularly play with a more fluid attack, as opposed to an old fashioned No. 9.
Speaking on TNT Sports, Horncastle said: "Arteta's blueprint is very similar to Pep [Guardiola's Manchester City] pre-[Erling] Haaland. It's very much 'I want control'.
"Four centre-backs across the back, because that gives me stability.
"I'll get my defenders, some of them are hybrid, they like to go and play in midfield.
"And I like my centre forward to be able to link the play and play almost as this extra midfield player.
"It's this fetisiation of control.
"I think the big Haaland debate goes on, even though he's just signed this ten-year deal and he scores 40 goals a season.
"When he's not scoring goals, what else is he doing? I think that is something coaches like Pep and Arteta ask themselves.
"They want everyone involved all the time for control purposes."
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