BREAKING NEWS: Following their Champions League elimination by Bayern Munich, Arsenal are reportedly intensifying their efforts to sign a top-tier attacker during the summer transfer window, according to Fabrizio Romano. Arsenal has been linked with a number of strikers, but Arteta has identified his preferred striker for that position and has urged the club to sign him. Arsenal speed up efforts for a new striker, with a Premier League player on the radar.

Following their defeat in the Champions League at the hands of Bayern Munich, Arsenal is reportedly ramping up efforts to secure a top-tier forward in the upcoming summer transfer window, as per reports from Footballwave.

Manager Mikel Arteta has set his sights on Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins due to his modern style of play and ability to impact games from different positions, both centrally and out wide. However, Watkins’ age, at 28, is a subject of debate.

Despite being on the older side, Watkins boasts impressive statistics. Last season, he notched up 16 goals and six assists in 40 appearances, while this season, he has already bagged 26 goals and provided 10 assists in 46 outings across all competitions.

Arsenal is also keeping tabs on Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig and Alexander Isak from Newcastle United.

Previously, they had expressed interest in Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon as a potential option for the No. 9 role.

Though Watkins may be seen as a short-term fix due to his age, his proven success in the Premier League suggests he could still bolster Arsenal’s squad, despite the presence of younger alternatives.

Having impressed in the Championship with Brentford, Watkins seamlessly transitioned to the Premier League, netting 59 goals in 141 league appearances for Aston Villa.

As the transfer window looms, Arteta might need to convince the board to overlook Watkins’ age and pursue him as a viable option.

Watkins’ recent standout performance against Arsenal, where he not only troubled their defense but also found the back of the net, underscores his potential impact at the Emirates Stadium.

Given Arsenal’s ongoing struggle to find a prolific striker, it’s evident that reinforcements in their attacking ranks are urgently needed.

Arteta has experimented with various forwards this season, including Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, and Eddie Nketiah, but none have matched Watkins’ level of productivity at Aston Villa.