Theo Walcott gave his verdict some time ago on which striker Arsenal should sign this summer, and there is still time for Mikel Arteta to listen.
Now that Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Riccardo Calafiori, Mikel Arteta will turn his attention to strengthening in other areas of the pitch.
Adding a new striker to the squad now appears to be a priority for the Gunners. Arsenal have enquired about Victor Osimhen, and are also pushing to strike an £85 million deal for Viktor Gyokeres.
Whilst Gabriel Jesus is striving to prove he can be the goalscorer that Arsenal need, and Kai Havertz impressed up front at the Emirates Stadium last season, there is certainly a strong argument that Arteta needs more firepower to lead the line.
However, former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott has already made it clear who he feels the Gunners’ top target for this vacancy ought to be.
Theo Walcott claims Ollie Watkins could be like Thierry Henry for Arsenal
As quoted by the Metro back in April, Walcott urged his former club to pursue a deal for Ollie Watkins.
The 35-year-old pundit said: “‘I feel he is the sort of player that Arsenal would look at. What I really like about Ollie Watkins is that, you look at his style and you think he is a winger.
“He reminds me, and it’s one of the best compliments I am going to give him, but he reminds me of Thierry Henry.
“Against Arsenal he played out on the left a lot. He wanted to be a forward, but drifted out on the left – he’s such a threat on the counter. He is playing at the top of his game and it would be refreshing to see if he stays at the club.”
Watkins does possess that Henry-esque quality of being able to peel out wide, usually towards the left flank, before cutting inside to create a new angle of attack. Like the French icon, the Aston Villa man is also a clinical finisher.
Watkins’ stock is certainly high this summer. He was in sensational form for the Midlands outfit last season, and was able to make himself a hero for England at Euro 2024.
Due to these factors, though, Aston Villa won’t let the 28-year-old go cheaply. The fact that Watkins is thought to be an Arsenal fan is likely to be of little consequence at any negotiation table.
Could Arsenal sign Watkins this summer?
There has been little to suggest that the Gunners are seriously exploring a means of signing Watkins this summer. Not only would the player likely be prohibitively expensive, but given his age he would also offer little resale value or scope for improvement.
Arsenal’s striker targets have been named and revealed, and Arteta is unlikely to pivot to any alternative options unless it becomes clear that a deal for either Gyokeres or Osimhen cannot be done.
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