Arsenal are chasing a big-money move to sign their new Van Persie

Ever since Mikel Arteta joined Arsenal in 2019, they have struggled to find a consistent number nine to improve the team. This may come as a surprising statement, as the Gunners are the top scorers in the Premier League with 85 according to Sofascore, but many believe they are inconsistent in front of goal.

This season alone, Arteta has played Gabriel Jesus up front, and more recently, Kai Havertz, who is in excellent form. The German has scored 11 goals and registered six assists the third best comeback of his career.

When the Spanish player was manager at the Emirates Stadium, he used players like Alexander Laczaette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, as well as Eddie Nketiah, who is still playing for the team, although he has played a rare role this season.

However, according to rumours, the Gunners are still looking to sign their dream striker, and could make a move for one of Europe's hottest players this summer, who has drawn comparisons to the former Arsenal striker.

List of Arsenal strikers

The player in question here is Juventus and Serbia's Dusan Vlahovic. There are reports suggesting that the Gunners are interested in signing the former Fiorentina player this summer.

According to GiveMeSport, Arsenal will “rest” if Vlahovic fails to agree a new contract with the Turin club. The Serbian international, who has 13 goals in 25 appearances for his country, could be available for £55m.

This is certainly a good price from Arsenal's point of view. According to the CIES Football Observatory, Vlahovic is currently valued at £68m, which means he can be had for £13m less than his current price.

How Dusan Vlahovic can improve Arsenal

Football commentator Ben Mattinson he once compared Vlahovic to former Arsenal player Robin van Persie on social media, discussing their many similar qualities before declaring the Serb his “favourite” Arsenal signing. It's certainly easy to see in style those comparisons.

Vlahovic has an amazing ability to score different goals just like Van Persie does. He has a “killer left foot”, as Mattinson puts it, and his ability to hit the ball out wide. Ring any bells?

As a Dutchman, the Juve striker is capable of making clever runs behind opposition players, and is a good finisher in the box. And boasting incredible skill in the air, he is the complete package.

There is an argument that Vlahovic has not reached the level expected of him so far in Turin. That said, the 40 goals he scored in 96 games came in good numbers during Juve's rebuilding period. It's good to cut him off a bit.

This season, Vlahovic is the second top scorer in Serie A, with 16 goals in 29 games. Only Lautaro Martinez is better, leading the way with an incredible 23 goals in 30 Scudetto-winning Inter matches.

The 24-year-old has an amazing ability to make something out of nothing. According to Fbref, he averages 0.61 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes, which puts him in the top 3%, and 0.13 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes, putting him at the top. 13%.

This is certainly helped by the amount of footage they shoot in 90 minutes. In Serie A this term, he is averaging 4.34 shots and 1.43 shots on target per 90 minutes, which puts him in the top 3% and 8% respectively.

The key to Vlahovic's game is his link-up game. The Serbian player is very strong and able to defend the ball from his opponents, he can go deep and receive the ball with his back to the goal, before getting runs from his teammates at the back. Therefore, he will link up well with the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

Interestingly, in a campaign where the two players turned 24 years apart, both Vlahiovc and Van Persie have the same minutes-per-goal ratio. Vlahovic averages one goal every 130 minutes this season in Serie A, while the former Netherlands international scored one goal every 150 minutes in the Premier League in 2007/08. However, it is important to note that Van Persie missed 13 games for club and country during that time due to injury, and still scored seven goals in just 15 league games.

Vlahovic could be the man Arsenal are looking to add firepower up front. He's had a fantastic season and is very similar to the former Gunners striker in Van Persie.

Should Arteta decide to go ahead and do a deal for him, it would be a must sign for Arsenal to give them the impetus to win the Premier League.