Arsenal’s need to sign a forward player this window is significant. The options beyond the starting front three have a significant gap regarding their quality and a serious injury to the Gunners’ forwards would create some nervousness without reinforcement.
The return of Emile Smith Rowe for Arsenal will of course be key, that said, the most likely potential signing appears to be left-winger Mykhaylo Mudryk of Shakhtar Donetsk. football.london understands that the interest in the Ukrainian has existed for some time.
Gabriel Martinelli has been the starter on the left and the addition of Mudryk would, on the surface, appear to congest the left flank with options with Smith Rowe’s primary successes coming from this wide role too. Although the England international differs in style to the other two.
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Therefore, is the argument that Arsenal should instead be looking for a player who can compete with Bukayo Saka a worthy one? Perhaps, but it does ignore potentially one forgotten aspect of the existing squad and in particular Martinelli.
Despite operating very successfully on the left, Martinelli can in fact play on the right and has done, even under current coach Mikel Arteta. Martinelli came on against Newcastle in the home fixture last season and was played in on the right by Takehiro Tomiyasu before sending a half-volley past Martin Dubravka.
His goal earned him a start on the same side against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Despite losing the game 3-2, Martinelli was the standout Arsenal performer and set up Martin Odegaard for one of the Gunners' two goals.
He grabbed another assist in the EFL Cup win over AFC Wimbledon, with Eddie Nketiah playing on the left flank with Alexandre Lacazette through the middle. Martinelli’s creativity is enhanced when playing from the right, he drives to the goal line and threatens with his strong cutbacks to the central forward or opposite winger.
Realistically, Martinelli, Saka and Mudryk could all rotate with one another and keep themselves fresher between fixtures. With Martinelli being able to play through the middle, there’s even scope for them to all play together as a front three if Gabriel Jesus was in need of a rest.
With all this in mind, a move for Mudryk should not be considered an issue based on his position. The level of versatility in existing options gives Arteta plenty of variation in what he could deploy and Mudryk’s addition would only further this.
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