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Arsenal given Viktor Gyokeres transfer approval as Mikel Arteta sent Alexander Isak message

:Headline: Arsenal given Viktor Gyokeres transfer approval as Mikel Arteta sent Alexander Isak message:
Ex-Arsenal winger Jermaine Pennant believes that the Gunners should be prioritising a move for Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres over Newcastle United's Alexander Isak.
Sports Mole

Arsenal should prioritise a swoop for Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres over Newcastle United's Alexander Isak, former Gunners winger Jermaine Pennant believes.

Mikel Arteta's attacking resources have been devastated by injuries to Bukayo Saka, Ethan Nwaneri and Gabriel Jesus, the latter of whom will not play again this season owing to his ACL rupture.

As a result, the only two recognised strikers in Arteta's ranks are Kai Havertz and 22-year-old Nathan Butler-Oyedeji - who has not made a single senior appearance for the Gunners - and fans are crying out for reinforcements before the January window shuts.

The consensus is that Arsenal are paying the price for not adding a seasoned goalscorer to their ranks in the summer window, and Pennant has warned against simply splashing the cash on a striker for the sake of it.

"The injury of Saka is huge, it's looking like he probably won't be back until the start of March. He's obviously not going to be rushed in back in the starting 11, so I think they're going to need some firepower in some way, shape or form," Pennant told Sports Mole.

Pennant: 'Arsenal have needed a striker for four years'

"Does that mean going into the transfer market and just buying someone for the sake of buying? You've got to get the right person to fit their mould. But they've needed a striker for the past, three to four years.

"If someone's available, who they like, who they can get, then I don't think it's in their benefit waiting until the summer, they need someone in now."

Funds are expected to be made available for Arteta to strengthen the squad this month, but many of Arsenal's top attacking targets are expected to be unattainable during the January transfer window.

Among Arsenal's chief targets are Swedish duo Isak and Gyokeres, who have scored a sensational 50 goals between them in all competitions this season, 17 for the Newcastle man and 33 for Gyokeres.

If Arsenal are to bolster their attacking ranks in the summer as well as January, Pennant would like to see his former club make a concerted effort to sign Gyokeres over Isak, claiming that the former Coventry City man is "more established" than his compatriot.

'Arsenal need a no messing about striker'

"Newcastle are not letting Isak go in this month. Are they going to work for Arsenal? Who knows? That's up to Arteta, but I think Gyokeres will probably be the better bet out of the two. I think he's more established.

"He's ruthless. He's got an eye for goal. And literally, that's what Arsenal need, no messing about striker. Give me the ball, I will turn and bust one in the back of the net. That's how he plays. So, I think if they are going to go to get someone, I think Gyokeres is probably the better bet."

Even if Sporting do decide to open the floor to bids for Gyokeres, who is tied down to the Portuguese giants until 2028, Arsenal are expected to face intense competition from Ruben Amorim's Manchester United for his signature.

Other centre-forwards on the Gunners' radar supposedly include RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko and Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic, but the former's agent has poured cold water over the prospect of a winter transfer.

In addition, Arsenal are said to have failed with an offer to take Vlahovic on loan for the rest of the season, and there has been no significant progress made on any potential January arrivals with over half of the window gone.

Jermaine Pennant was speaking to Sports Mole on behalf of William Hill. body check tags ::

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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool24176158233557
2Arsenal24148249222750
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest24145540271347
4Chelsea25127647341343
5Manchester CityMan City24125748351341
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle24125742291341
7Bournemouth24117641281340
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2591063838037
9Aston Villa2410773437-337
10Fulham249963632436
11Brentford2494114242031
12Crystal Palace247982830-230
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd2485112834-629
14Tottenham HotspurSpurs24831348371127
15Everton246992530-527
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2476112946-1727
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2454153452-1819
18Leicester CityLeicester2445152553-2817
19Ipswich TownIpswich2437142249-2716
20Southampton2423191854-369
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