The situation for the Brazilian player becomes even more precarious, as there’s a looming threat of losing his spot in the team if Mikel Arteta and Edu manage to secure the acquisition of a highly touted player for a move to N5 this year.
Arsenal is actively exploring options beyond borders to enhance their goal-scoring capabilities. According to an Italian report from Corriere Di Bologna, Arsenal is among several clubs expressing interest in signing Joshua Zirkzee, an exceptionally promising young forward from Bologna.
The competition for Zirkzee includes other clubs like Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, and Newcastle United, but Arsenal and Manchester United stand out as the primary contenders, according to the report.
However, Arsenal may face not only competition from Manchester United but also the potential involvement of Bayern Munich. The Bundesliga champions hold an exclusive buyback clause with Bologna, valued at around €40 million (£34 million). Despite the German behemoth’s interest, Arsenal appears prepared to make a competitive bid of approximately £40 million for the 22-year-old.
In evaluating the potential addition of Zirkzee to Arsenal’s squad, comparisons are drawn to the current Brazilian forward, Gabriel Jesus.
While Jesus is acknowledged for his talent and contributions to Arsenal’s attacks, the need for a more clinical finisher becomes crucial for the team’s title aspirations. Zirkzee, despite his youth and relative inexperience, is already demonstrating greater goal-scoring efficiency compared to Jesus.
Examining their league performances this season, Zirkzee has scored eight goals and provided two assists in 20 appearances, while Jesus has scored three goals and provided two assists in 16 appearances.
Beyond these surface-level statistics, the underlying numbers highlight Zirkzee’s superior goal-scoring capabilities. Despite Jesus having higher expected goal and assist numbers and taking more shots on target, Zirkzee boasts a better actual goal per 90 figure and a more efficient goal-to-shots ratio, both on target and overall.
Moreover, Zirkzee’s willingness to take shots from greater distances yet outscoring Jesus demonstrates his confidence in finishing ability. With the right coaching, there is potential for Zirkzee to further improve this strength.
As Zirkzee continues to showcase his talent and potential, the urgency for Arsenal to secure his services intensifies, with suggestions to push for a board decision on making an offer in the coming week. The pursuit of this promising talent reflects Arsenal’s commitment to enhancing their squad and addressing the imperative need for a more clinical goal-scorer in their pursuit of ending a two-decade-long title drought.
One of Arsenal’s TOP watches is Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee. The 22-year-old has seven goals in 15 Serie A games this season. pic.twitter.com/hT2OVFLmBn
— AllroundArsenal (@AllroundArsenal) January 24, 2024
