The dearth of signings by Arsenal within the January switch window has come below renewed scrutiny following the harm blow to Kai Havertz, leaving Mikel Arteta’s facet quick on one other attacking possibility at a pivotal stage of the season.
The German ahead has been main the road for Arsenal in latest weeks however has now been dominated out for the rest of the marketing campaign after struggling a hamstring harm.
Arsenal harm disaster might drive them into the free agent market
With Gabriel Jesus additionally sidelined as a result of an ACL harm, and Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli combating health issues, the Gunners’ attacking depth has been severely depleted.
Havertz has been certainly one of Arsenal’s most essential gamers this season, contributing 15 targets and 5 assists throughout all competitions. Changing his impression within the squad will likely be a serious problem.
With the switch window closed, Arsenal might now have to show to the free agent marketplace for reinforcements. Journalist Ben Jacobs has hinted that the Gunners might take into account an emergency signing, although no particular targets have been confirmed.
Jacobs referenced Mario Balotelli as one of many few notable free brokers obtainable, although he pressured that Arsenal aren’t presently pursuing the Italian ahead.
Talking on GiveMeSport’s Market Insanity podcast, he acknowledged:
“There is only one factor we must always emphasise – they will add a free agent. There aren’t that many round, however curiously, Mario Balotelli is likely to be a free agent. Maybe Arsenal must dig just a little bit deeper and usher in any individual random and momentary!
“I’m not in any method suggesting they’re Balotelli, however free company might be a method round this for Arsenal.”
Mario Balotelli is presently obtainable as a free agent. (Picture by Alex Livesey/Getty Photographs)
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Balotelli, presently within the closing yr of his contract with Genoa, has had a profession crammed with highs and lows. The 33-year-old striker first rose to prominence at Inter Milan, the place he was a part of the squad that received the historic treble in 2010. He later moved to Manchester Metropolis, enjoying a key function of their 2011/12 Premier League title-winning marketing campaign, earlier than stints at AC Milan, Liverpool, Good, Marseille, and golf equipment in Italy and Turkey.
Famend for his physicality, goal-scoring intuition, and penalty-taking capability, Balotelli has usually been a controversial determine as a result of disciplinary points and inconsistent performances. Nonetheless, with Arsenal now in determined want of attacking depth, an skilled free agent might present a short-term resolution. Listed here are another potential choices they might have a look at.
With the Gunners nonetheless competing for Premier League and Champions League glory, Arteta should discover a approach to compensate for Havertz’s absence. If the harm disaster worsens, Arsenal might don’t have any alternative however to behave quick and discover an emergency signing to maintain their season on observe.