Arsenal seemingly looking for attacking firepower this January after a frustrating few weeks for the Gunners. Mikel Arteta side to have for sure he fought for goalswho has scored just four times in his last four games at the Emirates Stadium.
Šaka will be absent for some time, and given that he is their main source of goalsit’s a blow to north Londoners. He has nine goals and 13 assists in all competitions for the Gunners this term.
Without their talismanic number seven, it must have been a struggle for Arteta’s side. So it is perhaps no surprise that they are being linked with another Premier League striker this January.
Arsenal are targeting a Premier League striker
The player in question is a striker for Manchester United and England Marcus Rashford. The 27-year-old’s future at Old Trafford has been out of sight of late and he could leave United in the coming days.
According to a report by Italian journalist Massimo MarianelloThe Gunners have “called Manchester United for Rashford”, if a move in the January transfer window becomes a possibility.
Unsurprisingly, Arteta’s side are not the only club looking to sign the England international this winter. Italian giants Juventus and AC Milan and German Borussia Dortmund are also interested. La Liga equipment that Barcelona has have also emerged as serious contenders for a winger.
As for the price for the 27-year-old, Arsenal are believed to be planning to pay around €25m (£21m). However, it is not clear at this stage if United will accept this or if they will demand a higher price for their academy star.
Why Rashford would be a good signing
Despite a tough time for Rashford, the United star has not put up dire numbers in 2024/25. He has played 24 times in all competitions this season, with seven goals and three assists, in 1,500 minutes, which is the equivalent of 16 full 90 minutes.
His United output is, quite simply, outstanding. The English representative has he represented his boyhood club 426 timesscoring 138 goals and registering 63 assists. He has scored ten or more Premier League goals in a season on four occasions.
There is no doubt that Rashford can explode, as he showed in the 2022/23 season for the Red Devils. United’s number ten was incredible that season, scoring 30 goals and providing nine assists in 56 games in all competitions.
Three of those 30 goals came against his potential new club Arsenal, with the one at the Emirates Stadium summing up Rashford perfectly.
He played a one-two with Bruno Fernandes, forced the defender to find some space and fired the ball home from 22 yards. It was for such moments described by football statistician Statman Dave as a “big game player”.
Similarities can be drawn between Rashford and another Arsenal target, Alexander Isak Newcastle United. The Gunners have been linked with the Swede of late, although he could cost more than £150 million.
Like Rashford, the Newcastle number 14 has been fantastic in the 2022/23 season. He scored 13 goals and recorded four assists in 18 Premier League gamesalthough he struggled with injuries that season.
Perhaps it’s no surprise that Rashford and Isak can be statistically compared from the 2022/23 season. on FBref. For example, the United star averaged 0.69 goals and assists and 0.44 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes.
Comparatively, Isak averaged 0.65 goals and assists and 0.3 goal creations in each game.
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Rashford and Isak key stats comparison for the 2022/23 PL season |
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|---|---|---|
|
Statistics (90 each) |
Rashford |
Isaac |
|
HIM |
0.69 |
0.65 |
|
Goals per shot into the goal area |
0.35 |
0.35 |
|
Key passages |
0.94 |
0.95 |
|
Actions that create goals |
0.44 |
0.3 |
|
Progressive mounts |
2.66 |
2.43 |
|
Statistics from FBref |
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As the stats show, the similarities between Rashford and Isak at their best are uncanny. At just £21m, this could be a bargain for Arsenal and allow them to strengthen elsewhere with the cash left over.
Rashford’s team-mate from United Andre Onana described him as “one of the best players in the world” at the end of last season. He has shown such form regularly throughout his career, and the Emirates Stadium could be the place where he can return to his best.
