Arsenal are one of a number of Europe’s biggest clubs interested in signing a top class centre forward. Here are the top five on Arsene Wenger’s shortlist.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is expected to buy a striker this summer, with additional options required alongside or as alternative to Olivier Giroud up front.
The Daily Mail report that the Gunners have five players in mind to bring to Emirates Stadium at the end of the season. Here’s an analysis of each of Wenger’s forward targets.
Mario Mandzukic
Bayern Munich centre forward Mario Mandzukic cannot be sure of his place in Pep Guardiola’s team next season, with the signing of Robert Lewandowski from Borussia Dortmund signalling his time as first choice attacker may have come to an end.
Mandzukic’s key asset is his work rate, and the Croatia international was instrumental in Bayern’s UEFA Champions League triumph last season with inspired performances against Juventus – and indeed Arsenal. Mandzukic ran himself into the ground with relentless pressing of the centre backs, before joining the midfield battle if the ball is played past him.
The 27 year-old is also an excellent aerial threat, scoring seven of his fifteen goals for club and country this season with his head – compared to four with his left foot and four with his right.
The biggest weakness in Mandzukic’s game is his involvement in build up play – he only averages 18 passes per league game in a team as dominant in possession as Guardiola’s Bayern Munich, and has only provided one assist for the Bavarians.
He can often be a peripheral figure – if a clinical one.
In Mandzukic’s 13 starts and five substitute Bundesliga appearances, he has had just an average of just 2.2 shots each game – but scored 11 goals.
It is a stark contrast to the involvement of Olivier Giroud, whose six assists go some way to illustrating his clever flicks and hold up play.
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