Arsenal’s £31.5m deadline day striker target outperforming Alexandre Lacazette in ten areas

Deadline day has arrived and still, Arsenal supporters hang on to the hope that the striker Mikel Arteta desperately needs will arrive before the close of the January transfer window.

However, yesterday evening saw a new link to a forward that it seemed almost inevitable that eventually would see a connection to the club. Juventus striker Alvaro Morata is said to be in direct communication with the Arsenal coaching staff.

Spanish outlet AS reports that Arteta’s assistant Miguel Molina has spoken with Morata and has made him see that he would fit into the missing piece of the north London side’s puzzle. A deal would likely be for a loan due to Morata’s Transfermarkt valuation of £31.5m much higher than what the Gunners would be willing to pay for him.

Morata already had his time in the Premier League with Chelsea and failed to impress enough to keep his place in the English top flight. Chelsea eventually moved the player onto Atletico Madrid where he has since left to join Juventus on loan again.

Now 29-years of age, Morata would be in direct competition with Alexandre Lacazette for a starting spot in the Arsenal team.

Lacazette’s scoring has not been enough to convince anyone that he can lead the line solely without Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. With the Gabon striker closing on a move to Barcelona until the end of the season, only Eddie Nketiah remains as an orthodox backup option.

Statistically, however, Morata does compare well alongside the French forward. In fact, in a number of areas, the Spaniard comes out on top.

When looking at both players’ 2021/22 seasons so far, Morata’s total successful attacking actions per 90 of 3.5 comfortably betters Lacazette’s 2.25 according to Wyscout.

The story continues with goals.