Arsenal ended the season with mixed feelings. Although they fought for the top of the Premier League, the team suffered at key moments due to a lack of attacking variants. Gabriel Jesus failed to maintain a consistent goalscoring rhythm, while Bukayo Saka carried too much of the burden of attack from the right. The squad’s depth was tested in European competitions, and in decisive matches it became clear that Mikel Arteta needs more solutions in the final third. With next year’s calendar full with a return to the Champions League and the pressure to lift a major title, the management is seriously considering reinforcing the attacking front.
One of the names on the agenda is Ademola Lookman. According to information from The Sun, the Nigerian winger has caught the eye of the London club. The 27-year-old had an outstanding season with Atalanta, both in the league and in European competitions, which led him to win the African Footballer of the Year award. Arsenal are keeping a close eye on him, although there are internal doubts because of his age and the limited resale value he could offer.
The player is under contract until 2027 and has an estimated price tag of £50m. Despite a run-in with manager Gian Piero Gasperini months ago, Lookman remains central to the Italian side. Liverpool are also reportedly interested, but the Gunners are not contemplating any barter deals or complicated business.
Arsenal interested in going hard for the 27-year-old star in the transfer market who will play in Gabriel Martinelli’s position
The possibility of bringing in Lookman opens up an interesting tactical discussion. At Atalanta he has performed better as a left winger, an area where Martinelli has had some bright, if inconsistent, moments. Arteta could alternate between the two or relocate the Brazilian to more inside roles. Lookman brings a burst of pace, pace and goals, just what was missing in tight games.
His profile fits a vertical style of play, something Arsenal adopt more when they don’t have the ball or need to break down low defences. In addition, Lookman’s experience in top leagues – Premiership, Bundesliga, Serie A – adds a plus that not all candidates offer. Some will say that paying 50 million euros for a player close to 30 does not make economic sense, but if he performs two good seasons and helps to win titles, the expense justifies itself.
BTP Opinion:
There’s another side of the coin that not many consider. The arrival of an African player awarded the continent’s best player could bring the club closer to an increasingly strong and committed African audience. Arsenal already enjoys sympathy in countries such as Nigeria and Ghana, and this move could have repercussions beyond the sporting.
Emotionally, Lookman has shown character after overcoming the conflict with Gasperini, which speaks well of his resilience. Ultimately, if the club are betting on him, it does so with the intention of taking a firm step in a concrete direction: to fight for everything seriously. With a calendar that will give no respite and big targets, adding a proven player with a hunger for glory seems more of a necessity than a whim.
