Arsenal are continuing to work hard to sign a new striker in this window.
The Gunners have been on the lookout for a new number nine since the start of January. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus’ injuries have made a new striker an absolute necessity.
Arsenal have made a bid for Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, but that was rejected. Unai Emery’s side are not prepared to sell their star striker, especially after they’ve agreed to sell Jhon Duran to Al Nassr.
Mikel Arteta’s side will try to sign Watkins again, but they do have a plan if they don’t manage to land a new striker before deadline day.
Arsenal could try to sign Bryan Mbeumo or another Premier League winger if striker moves fail
Watkins is the striker Arsenal are pushing to sign, but he isn’t the only one.
Reports have linked multiple forwards with a move to the Emirates. Arsenal are trying to sign Mathys Tel of Bayern Munich as well, along with their fierce North London rivals Tottenham.
The aim is still to sign a new striker, but if Arsenal run out of time to bring in a number nine, the Gunners will change their plans and try to recruit a winger.
That’s according to CaughtOffside, who claim that Arteta will ‘evaluate the possibility of buying a replacement for Bukayo Saka’ if their striker dreams fail.
Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo is a player set to be under consideration, and the fact that his contract expires in the summer of 2026 could give Arsenal some leverage.
The other winger under consideration is Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, who the report claims is a target for Premier League leaders Liverpool as well.
Mbeumo would be the more like-for-like backup for Saka because he is a left-footed right-winger like the Englishman. Semenyo, on the other hand, is right-footed.
Antoine Semenyo vs Bryan Mbeumo stats compared
Arsenal’s priority has to be a new striker, but they do need another right-winger as well.
Semenyo has been linked with Arsenal in the past, while Mbeumo is a target for Arteta as well. Both players would add something different to this Gunners side.
But, whose numbers have been better this season? Here you go!
| Antoine Semenyo | Bryan Mbeumo | |
| Games | 24 | 27 |
| Goals | 8 | 14 |
| Assists | 4 | 4 |
Mbeumo is the clear winner, and the fact that he can play both as a left winger and also as a second striker if required makes him a great option for Arsenal.
Martin Keown has even compared Mbeumo to Saka and Mohamed Salah on TNT Sports (January 1, 2025, 5:05 pm).
However, Brentford are keen to keep hold of Mbeumo, and only a massive bid from Arsenal will change that stance late in the window.