Arsenal linked with Gyokeres replacement who can be the true number nine
Arsenal's 3-0 defeat at Brighton dampened the spirits around the Emirates, especially after what was essentially a perfect start to the season. They're now in the international break with a sour taste in their mouths, and will need to make sure they bounce back stronger against Leeds when they return.
One player who will have a particularly sour taste is Viktor Gyokeres. The Swedish international has really struggled at the start of the season. He is yet to score and has made just two Premier League appearances. Furthermore, he's completely lost his starting job to Kai Havertz, leading many to believe that his time at the Emirates could be nearing an end.
Amid Gyokeres' tough start, Arsenal have been linked to several world-class number nines. Julian Alvarez was heavily linked over the summer and remains linked with a move to North London. The Gunners have also been linked with Bournemouth star Eli Junior Kroupi.
The latest striker to be linked with a move to the Emirates is Sunderland's Brian Brobbey, who has impressed so far in the Premier League, coupled with a really good summer with the Netherlands. Brobbey joined the Black Cats after they earned promotion for a fee of £17 million from Ajax.
Since then, the 24-year-old has scored 10 goals in 38 games for Regis Le Bris' side, helping them to qualify for the Europa League. According to talkSPORT, Arsenal are among several top Premier League sides who are interested in signing Brobbey in January. Manchester United and Liverpool are also understood to be keen.
In terms of a potential replacement for Gyokeres, Brobbey almost seems like the ideal fit. If Gyokeres were to leave, Havertz would still likely start in the immediate future, so the Gunners need to sign someone who is a different kind of player. Brobbey is about the closest to a traditional number nine that we have in the Premier League. He's very physical, able to bulldoze defenders, yet he also has a quick burst of pace, and a finisher's instinct.
He could be a really valuable asset for Arsenal, especially against the more physical Premier League sides, where Havertz seems to struggle. We've seen Gyokeres fall flat in games like this, looking somewhat lacklustre, despite his stockier frame; Brobbey would be a different level of number nine.
There's no doubt that Sunderland will set a high price tag, seeing as they are in Europe this season and seeing as there's significant demand for the Dutch international. However, if the Gyokeres experiment continues to fail, then investing in a player like Brobbey could finally provide Arsenal with that 'proper' number nine.
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