80% take-on success: Why Arsenal should break the bank for this explosive talent

Arsenal’s search for a striker is set to be one of the dominant plot-lines of the January transfer window.

In the Gunners’ FA Cup victory over Tottenham, Theo Walcott was stretchered off to join Nicklas Bendtner and Olivier Giroud on Arsenal’s growing injury list.

Speaking in the press conference after the game, Arsene Wenger said of his transfer plans:

“I am waiting to see now who walks out there and knocks at the door, waiting to come in.”

Wenger’s prayers might just have been answered. There is a knock at the door, and it’s from Porto’s star striker Jackson Martinez.

Speaking to The Mirror, Martinez said: “I cheered for Arsenal when I was a kid – I love their style of play.

“It’s flowing and open with a lot of first touch passes. It would be suitable for a player like me. If I get a chance to play for a high level club like Arsenal I wouldn’t hesitate to accept it.”

Martinez has been in explosive form for Porto. In 14 appearances the Liga Sagres, he already has 12 goals. That’s an average of 0.86 goals per game. By comparison, Olivier Giroud has just a Premier League strike-rate of just 0.44 goals per game.

Admittedly, Giroud is playing in a more competitive league than Martinez. However, the Colombian’s success in the Champions League suggests that he is more than just a flat-track bully.

Like Giroud, Martinez has two goals from six European appearances.

Goalscoring aside, the most impressive aspect of his game is his average duels won: 51%.

Although Martinez is not thought of as a particularly physical forward, he has won just 2% fewer of his headed duels than Giroud.

However, the stats suggest he would add another dimension to the Arsenal attack. Giroud lacks the pace and flair to win many of his take-ons, succeeding in just 32% of his attempts to beat his man. By contrast, Martinez is successful on 80% of occasions.

One factor counting against the Porto striker’s chances of moving to England is that he is cup-tied for the Champions League. However, Arsenal may have no more than two European fixtures left to play. The Gunners’ focus is on their promising Premier League campaign.

Martinez wouldn’t come cheap. There is talk of a £30 million price tag. However, as Arsenal learnt when acquiring Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid, established quality can be costly. However, it could also make the difference between being also-rans and title-winners.

Signing Martinez would be another significant statement of ambition and edge Arsenal towards their first trophy since 2005.