“Although I really want Gyokeres but Mikel Arteta has another preferred striker and I can’t opposed him”: Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke names Mikel Arteta’s preferred striker and it’s not Gyokeres
Arsenal will host Crystal Palace in their upcoming game of the English Premier League 2024/25 season at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners are second in the points table with 66 points in 33 matches. They have won 18 matches, drawn 12, and lost three in the league so far this season. Arsenal are coming to this game on the back of a win against Ipswich Town in the Premier League.
Since the arrival of Andrea Berta at Arsenal, it’s become even more clear that the Gunners will look to sign a new striker this summer.
Mikel Arteta’s squad has arguably been calling out for a traditional number nine for some time now — Kai Havertz has been excellent for Arsenal but he needs further support.
Arteta has often enjoyed using Havertz as number eight at the Emirates Stadium, the role he was actually signed from Chelsea for.
But with Gabriel Jesus unfortunately suffering more than one injury over the last year, Havertz has solely been needed as a number nine.
That being said, Berta is determined to find Arsenal a striker over the next few months and the former Atletico Madrid sporting director will seemingly leave no stone unturned.
Andrea Berta refused to sign Alvaro Morata at Arsenal
That being said, Football Transfers are now reporting that Berta has actually rejected one of Arteta’s striker recommendations since working with the club, Alvaro Morata.
Arsenal were linked with Morata in January, a 32-year-old who is now playing for Galatasaray in Turkey after representing some of Europe’s top sides over the years.
According to the report, Arteta suggested Morata to Berta in the club’s early planning meetings — part of their ‘win now’ strategy.
However, Berta immediately dismissed that idea, suggesting that Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins was a better fit.
Of course, that is thought to be why Arsenal made a bid for Watkins in January, one that Unai Emery’s side had no interest in accepting.
Although, given that Watkins has often been benched by Marcus Rashford since he arrived on loan in January, that might be one situation to revisit.
Arsenal might sign two strikers at Arsenal
Interestingly, the report suggests that Arsenal could look for two strikers this summer — Berta wants a number nine who’s ready to start as well as someone to rotate in when needed.
And whilst Victor Osimhen called Morata ‘incredible’ whilst playing alongside him in Turkey recently, he’s surely not the answer for Arsenal at this stage of his career.
Berta is a fan of Viktor Gyokeres at Sporting CP, a striker who has scored an absurd amount of goals since switching the English Championship for Portugal.
However, Gyokeres might not be the right fit for Arsenal despite his goalscoring.
It’s going to be a difficult choice for Berta and Arteta this summer when it seems as if their number one candidate, Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, won’t be available.
