Arsenal to sell key first-team star to fund summer transfer move for striker

The Gunners may be forced to sell one of Leandro Trossard or Gabriel Martinelli to generate the funds needed to sign a big-name striker in the summer transfer window.

Fans and pundits have pointed out Arsenal’s failure to strengthen their attacking options as a major reason for Mikel Arteta’s team falling behind in the Premier League title race once again.

Since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s departure, Arsenal have lacked a centre-forward capable of scoring 30 goals a season. Injuries to Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, and Bukayo Saka have further limited Arteta’s attacking choices this season.

Arteta confirmed that plans were in place to bring in a new striker during the January transfer window, but the deadline passed without any additions to the squad.

Reports suggest that Arsenal made an unsuccessful bid for Aston Villa and England forward Ollie Watkins, who has previously expressed his desire to play for the Gunners.

Meanwhile, Arne Slot’s dominant Liverpool have extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to 13 points, and it seems that Arsenal may now be ready to make significant changes.

According to The Mirror, Arsenal could consider selling either Trossard or Martinelli to fund a move for a proven goalscorer who can elevate the club to the next level.

Both Trossard and Martinelli have attracted significant interest from the Saudi Pro League, and neither player is deemed untouchable within Arsenal’s hierarchy.

Trossard has lived up to his £20 million price tag since joining from Brighton in January 2023 but is now in the final 18 months of his contract.

Martinelli, who has been inconsistent due to injuries this season, still has two-and-a-half years left on his current deal in north London.

Arteta is reportedly a ‘huge admirer’ of Newcastle sensation Alexander Isak, though club bosses view RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko as a more ‘realistic’ option.

The report also indicates that Arsenal are keen to sign a new left-winger, with Nico Williams at the top of their transfer target list.

Arteta has openly expressed his disappointment at the club’s failure to bolster their attacking options in January.

‘We had a clear intention which is always when a window opens to explore the opportunities to improve our squad,’ the Spaniard told reporters.

‘With players with injuries, we’ve been impacted and we haven’t achieved it.

‘We are disappointed in that sense but as well we are very aware that we only want to bring certain kinds of players and we have to be very disciplined with that as well.

‘When you try your best and do things, you see the people and we share the same intentions, when you don’t achieve it okay, for sure there are things to learn from it.

‘But you have to move on and that is a piece that was important in the moment, but now we’ve moved on.

‘It’s in the profile, a player that can make us better. Financially there is a lot of ways, a lot of things that we must stay in the lane that has taken us this far and from there try to improve.’