Since taking the job over five years ago, Mikel Arteta has helped to transform Arsenal.
He’s taken the club from one languishing in mid-table looking downwards to one that’s a genuine contender in every competition they take part in.
However, he has had to make numerous unpopular and difficult decisions during his tenure, such as terminating Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s contract in 2022.
It was the right thing to do, but it’s impossible to deny that the team could have used someone as prolific as he once was over the last few years, which could explain reports linking them to a certain attacker from the continent.
Arsenal target free-scoring forward
As things stand, this summer is shaping up to be quite exciting for Arsenal.
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The club have already announced the signings of Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Noni Madueke.
Moreover, Spanish centre-back Cristhian Mosquera is set to be announced any day now, and Andrea Berta and Co seem to be finally nearing the end of their hunt for Viktor Gyokeres.
And yet, the Premier League runners-up don’t appear to be done yet, as they’re now looking at another prolific attacker from Europe, someone who could be Arteta’s new Aubameyang.
Yes, according to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Arsenal are one of several teams interested in Ademola Lookman.
The report has revealed that the Gunners have enquired about the player, who is also a target for Inter Milan.
While the competition could be a problem, the money involved is unlikely to be, with the report revealing that Atalanta want just £43m for their star attacker.
It’s still a sizable sum of money, but given Lookman’s ability and record, one worth paying, especially as he could be Arsenal’s new Auba.
Why Lookman could be Arteta's new Auba
While it might seem like an odd comparison to make, there are several similarities between Lookman and Aubameyang that make it easier to see how the former could be Arsenal’s new version of the latter.
The first couple, and certainly the most surface-level, are that the Nigerian international would be joining the Gunners from a team in one of Europe’s top five leagues and doing so at a similar point in his career.
When the Gabonese put pen to paper in North London, he was 28 years old, and in just over two months, the Atalanta ace will be as well.
The next similarity, which is more concrete, is that, like the former North Londoner, the 27-year-old star is more than capable of playing out wide or straight down the middle.
Likewise, during his time at the Emirates, the Laval-born goal machine spent a great deal of time playing off the left, as well as up top.
Finally, and this is the most critical comparison of them all, the London-born ace has become an output monster in recent seasons, just as the former captain was for most of his time in N5.
For example, across his 118 games for the Bergamo outfit, totalling 7538 minutes, the “world-class” attacker has scored 52 goals and provided 25 assists.
Appearances
33
45
40
Minutes
1858′
2809′
2871′
Goals
15
17
20
Assists
8
10
7
Goal Involvements per Match
0.69
0.60
0.67
Minutes per Goal Involvement
80.78′
104.03′
106.33
That means the 29-capped international has averaged a goal involvement every 1.53 games or every 97.89 minutes since joining the Serie A side.
For comparison’s sake, the former Arsenal star scored 92 goals and provided 21 assists in 163 appearances, totalling 12868 minutes during his time in red and white, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.44 games, or every 113.87 minutes.
Ultimately, they may not be exactly alike, but there are some undeniable similarities between Lookman and Aubameyang, and most crucially, the Nigerian superstar could have a similar impact at Arsenal that the Gabonese ace once had.
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