Arsenal have reportedly added Atalanta BC striker Ademola Lookman to their shortlist ahead of the summer transfer window.
The Gunners lost 2-1 against Bournemouth on Saturday at the Emirates in the Premier League, dropping points for the 17th time in 35 games.
Head coach Mikel Arteta will know that his side’s defeat ultimately mattered little given Liverpool have already confirmed their status as Premier League champions, with his team’s Champions League semi-final clash against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday of far more importance.
However, familiar goalscoring issues cropped up against PSG in the first leg of their tie last Tuesday when the Gunners lost 1-0 at home.
It would be surprising if Arteta failed to strengthen up front, and journalist Florian Plettenberg has linked the Londoners to Atalanta BC striker Lookman, reporting that he is on the manager’s shortlist.
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Is Lookman the right profile?
Lookman has played for Everton, Fulham and Leicester City in the Premier League, but he scored just 11 goals in 96 appearances in the English top flight.
The 27-year-old has managed to score 13 goals and provide five assists for Atalanta in Serie A this campaign in 28 games, though he has only played the equivalent of just under 23 90-minute matches.
Lookman is capable of playing out wide on the left as well as in a more central position, so perhaps the forward could be utilised across Arsenal’s frontline.
The Gunners have previously been linked to strikers such as Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres, players who are much more physically robust than five-foot-eight Lookman.
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Is Arteta under pressure?
Regardless of who Arteta decides to bring to the Emirates, there is an argument that the Spaniard will be under significant pressure to finally deliver upon the team’s promise.
Arsenal will likely finish second in the Premier League for a third consecutive season, and their failure to capitalise on the shortcomings of 2023-24 champions Manchester City has been concerning.
Arteta did win the FA Cup in his first season with the Londoners in 2019-20, but that trophy has been their only triumph since his arrival.
After being backed with significant funds, the Arsenal boss will be eager to prove he can be the one to take Arsenal over the line.
