As reported by Metro, Arsenal have been boosted in their pursuit of Jonathan David. The Gent forward has admitted that he would love to play in the Premier League after enjoying an excellent season in the Belgian Pro League.
David told the Guardian (as cited by Metro), “The Premier League is the best in the world and most competitive, so obviously that is somewhere I would love to play in the future.”
However, the report claims that Arsenal could face stiff competition from league rivals Chelsea, Manchester United and Leicester City.
Why do Arsenal need Jonathan David?
Arsenal are poised to undergo a major squad overhaul in the summer as Mikel Arteta looks to usher in a new era at the Emirates. Especially in the attacking department, the Spaniard is running the risk of losing star striker and club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Also, Alexandre Lacazette hasn’t been able to provide the productivity in the final third. Same applies to Mesut Ozil, who, despite improving under Arteta, has not been able to make the desired impact. The German also bags a whopping £350k a week wage that has been causing financial problems for the club.
Aaron Ramsey’s departure last summer created a massive void in the creative department. And with Dani Ceballos expected to return to Real Madrid in the summer, Arsenal could certainly use the services of a new attacking midfielder.
Where does David fit in at Arsenal?
David is a playmaker by trade, frequently operating in the number ten role. But, what makes him such an appealing target for Arsenal or any other club is his productivity in the final third.
Indeed, the Canadian always looks to make dangerous runs inside the penalty area. His ability to find scoring opportunities has seen him bag a whopping 18 goals for Gent this season, helping the club finish second in the Belgian Pro League, which recently got cancelled due to Coronavirus.
Should Aubameyang leave Arsenal in the summer, David could be incorporated alongside Lacazette in a potential two-man offensive setup. Alternatively, he could feature in the number ten role, at the expense of Ozil. In fact, it would perhaps be wiser for the Gunners to offload the underperforming German at the end of the season.
That being said, it will be a difficult task for Arsenal to get hold of David in the summer. The Canadian international is destined to spark a bidding war, and it would be interesting to see how his transfer saga takes shape within the coming months.
