Arsenal might secure one of Europe’s top goal scorers.
Despite having much to be proud of this season, Arsenal fans faced another Premier League campaign ending in heartbreak and countless what-ifs.
Mikel Arteta’s team battled Manchester City until the last day, falling just short. Although they had the best defense in the league, they scored five fewer goals than the reigning champions.
As impressive as Kai Havertz and talented as Gabriel Jesus are, it appears Arsenal could benefit from a new number nine. Recent reports suggest this might be exactly what happens, with a player who has outscored both Arsenal stars being heavily linked with a move to N5.
Arsenal’s hunt for a new striker
It’s well-known that Edu Gaspar and his team are searching for a new striker this season. While players like Alexander Isak, Victor Osimhen, and Benjamin Sesko have been strongly linked with a move to the Emirates, another name has now emerged: Lautaro Martínez.
A report from Spain over the weekend indicates that Arsenal are highly interested in Inter Milan star Lautaro Martínez and are preparing a €90 million offer (about £77 million) to entice the Italian club to sell. Despite their on-pitch success, Inter Milan faces financial difficulties, and while selling Martínez isn’t ideal, they might consider the deal if Arsenal proceeds with the proposed offer.
If this deal goes through, it would mark another significant investment by the Kroenkes in the first team. Considering Arsenal’s need for a consistent goalscorer and the Argentine’s outstanding record this season, it could be an investment worth making.
Comparing Martínez to Havertz and Jesus
So, if Arsenal are planning to spend a substantial amount to bring Martínez to the Emirates this summer, how does he compare to their two main strikers?
As expected, the World Cup champion has been significantly more efficient than both of them this season. His record of 27 goals in 44 games is evidence of this, surpassing the combined totals of the German and Brazilian players—14 and eight goals, respectively.
In fact, when comparing the trio’s goal contributions throughout the season, the Inter star’s 34 involvements are only three fewer than the 37 produced by his potential future teammates combined.
| Martínez vs Havertz vs Jesus | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Martínez | Havertz | Jesus |
| Appearances | 44 | 51 | 36 |
| Goals | 27 | 14 | 8 |
| Assists | 7 | 7 | 8 |
| Goal Involvements per Match | 0.77 | 0.41 | 0.44 |
| All Stats via Transfermarkt | |||
The 26-year-old doesn’t just excel in terms of pure output; he also emerges as the clear leader when comparing their underlying stats relevant to strikers. For instance, although he doesn’t lead in aerial duels won or goal-creating actions per 90, he does in non-penalty expected goals, non-penalty goals, shots, shots on target, goals per shot, and goals per shot on target, all on a per 90 basis.
| Martínez vs Havertz vs Jesus | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Stats per 90 | Martínez | Havertz | Jesus |
| Non-Penalty Expected Goals | 0.56 | 0.33 | 0.41 |
| Non-Penalty Goals | 0.63 | 0.31 | 0.38 |
| Shots | 3.86 | 2.15 | 3.30 |
| Goals per Shot | 0.16 | 0.14 | 0.11 |
| Shots on Target | 1.51 | 0.83 | 1.27 |
| Goals per Shot on Target | 0.41 | 0.37 | 0.30 |
| Goal-Creating Actions | 0.51 | 0.60 | 0.68 |
| Aerial Duels Won | 1.42 | 3.35 | 1.17 |
| All Stats via FBref for the 23/24 Season | |||
In the grand scheme of things, despite the substantial financial investment, it’s crucial for Arsenal to acquire Martínez for North London this summer. This decision might limit playing time for Havertz and Jesus, but it’s vital because their title aspirations could hinge on Martínez’s goal-scoring ability.
