Ollie Watkins to Arsenal transfer makes no sense as Mikel Arteta handed strange scenario

Arsenal are finally going for a striker in the transfer market, but their approach for Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins raises plenty of questions.

Gunners fans will have grown tired and weary of clamours for their team to sign a new No.9 to transform them from title challengers to potential winners. Gabriel Jesus is Arsenal's only natural striker, with Kai Havertz occasionally filling in, although both have been unconvincing.

And with the Brazilian suffering what is likely to be a season-ending ACL injury, they have chosen to act just days before the Janaury transfer window shuts. Watkins is better than what Arsenal currently have and would start ahead of Jesus even if the former Manchester City player was fully fit.

But with Monday's deadline fast approaching, it's a move which has a hint of desperation about it. Jesus suffered his injury during the FA Cup defeat to Manchester United on January 12.

So why has it taken them so long to act? It indicates that Watkins was never considered until Jesus' injury, but why potentially spend £60million or more when you can use those funds towards buying the striker you really want in the summer?

Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres have been heavily linked with Mikel Arteta's team for some time now. Both players are considerably younger and have more room for improvement than the Villa frontman, who will be 30 this year.

Arsenal may still believe they have an excellent chance of catching Liverpool in the title race this season. The Gunners are six points behind Arne Slot's side, although the Reds also have a game in hand.

They also remain in the Champions League and that may be their most realistic chance of silverware this season, with big hitters Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Manchester City involved in playoff ties in February.

However, if Arsenal's plan to sign Watkins has a short-term view, it puts a lot of pressure on him and the club for it to succeed. If he were to join, that would almost certainly rule out any other striker signing in the summer.

For Arteta, this signing could have the transformative effect his team needs to get over the line. And yet there must also be fears over how much it could set them back.

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