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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has had a dismal couple of months at Arsenal. Starting the season in poor form, things went from bad to worse for the Gabon international as he found himself on the receiving end of disciplinary action.
The then Gunners captain reportedly missed training sessions on account of personal travel, failing to adhere to head coach Mikel Arteta's schedule. Arteta, who in the past has shown a no-nonsense attitude towards this kind of behavior, sidelined the striker and stripped him of the captaincy.
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Aubameyang hasn't featured in any of Arsenal's last six matches. While the club have been on an incredible run of form even in the absence of their captain, there is no doubt that the club still lack an out-and-out striker.
The club are reportedly set to listen to offers for the 32-year-old during the ongoing transfer window. Let's we take a look at five players who could replace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Arsenal.
#5. Gabriel Jesus - Manchester City
Gabriel Jesus is one of many who could replace Aubameyang at Arsenal.
The Brazilian striker has enjoyed a mixed run at Manchester City so far. Signed from Palmeiras in 2017, the 24-year-old has won several trophies with the Manchester outfit.
Jesus has won three Premier League titles, four EFL Cups and one FA Cup during his time with the Cityzens. His personal record is quite impressive as well; Jesus has scored 87 goals and provided 43 assists in his 217 appearances for the club. Notably, many of those matches have seen him come off the bench.
Despite this, Jesus has always been in the shadow of his teammates. He seems to lack the individual qualities that his peers have and has struggled to meet the lofty expectations that come with filling the shoes of Sergio Aguero.
It is a well-known fact that Manchester City are on the lookout for a striker. They could be open to selling Jesus to raise funds for the same. The Brazilian would also be a great option for Arteta and the Arsenal board to consider.
#4. Jonathan David - Lille
Jonathan David is another nifty option that many European clubs are considering.
The Canadian youngster made his professional debut with Gent in the Belgian first division. He spent two years there, racking up 37 goals in 83 appearances before signing for French outfit Lille in 2020.
The 21-year-old striker enjoyed a breakout season last year, scoring 13 league goals and lifting Ligue 1 in his debut campaign with the club. David was a key member of the side that went on to break the monopoly of Paris Saint-Germain in France.
David has started this season with aplomb as well. He already has 12 goals in just 19 appearances, almost equalling his tally from last season. Consequently, the Canadian has slowly found himself on the watchlist of many top clubs this year.
Signing Jonathan David would certainly be a shrewd decision for Arteta and his side.
#3 Victor Osimhen - Napoli
Victor Osimhen is another name on the radar of several top European clubs, including Arsenal.
Osimhen made his debut with Wolfsburg in 2017, before signing permanently for Lille in 2019. He spent a year with the French outfit, scoring 18 goals in one season.
The Nigerian then went on to sign for Napoli in 2020 for a reported €70 million, making him the most expensive African footballer in history. Interestingly, he beat Arsenal's signing Nicolas Pepe for that record.
Like any big-money move, Osimhen's transfer has been heavily debated in the past year.
Osimhen registered 10 league goals in 24 appearances last season and already has five goals in 11 appearances since Serie A kicked off in August. He is enjoying his time with the Naples outfit and has shown that he is a bonafide goalscorer.
We could see several clubs enter a bidding war for Osimhen next summer and Arsenal could also get involved in the scuffle.
#2 Dominic Calvert-Lewin - Everton
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is one of the brightest prospects in England.
The Englishman has enjoyed a fine couple of seasons with Everton in the Premier League. Having signed for the Toffees in 2016, it took Calvert-Lewin a couple of seasons to adjust to the English top-flight.
Calvert-Lewin hit his stride in the 2019-20 season, scoring 13 goals in the Premier League. He went on to better this scoring record the following year as he recorded 16 league goals, cementing his name as one of the top strikers in the division.
His efforts earned him a call-up to the national team, for whom he has scored four goals. Calvert-Lewin has been plagued with injury concerns this season, which have limited his appearances.
Despite featuring only four times, the Englishman already has three league goals to his name. Arsenal would definitely benefit from his aerial ability and impeccable finishing.
#1 Dusan Vlahovic - Fiorentina
Dusan Vlahovic has burst onto the scene as one of Europe's top strikers.
The Serbian has been in top form over the past couple of seasons, setting incredible standards along the way. Vlahovic had previously represented Partizan in Serbia before signing for Fiorentina in 2018.
Since joining the Italian outfit, Vlahovic endured two lackluster campaigns before finally hitting his stride. In the 2020-21 Serie A season, Vlahovic scored an incredible 21 goals in the league, finishing fourth in the race for the Golden Boot.
He also equalled Cristiano Ronaldo's record for scoring the most Serie A goals in a calendar year, netting 33 times in 2021.
Vlahovic's efforts earned him the award for Serie A's best young player. He has carried his form into this season as well, and has already scored 16 goals in just 19 appearances.
The Serbian has already rejected Fiorentina's contract extension offer, with his current deal expiring in 2023. Arsenal have also had a bid rejected for the Serb in the past and are rumored to have submitted an improved offer very recently.
Vlahovic would certainly be a welcome addition for both the Gunners and the Premier League.
