Following talks of a probable transfer, former Arsenal striker Alan Smith has stated that Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin is not a “perfect match” for the Gunners.
With Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah’s contracts expiring at the conclusion of the season, Mikel Arteta may have to rebuild his forward line in the coming year.
If the two leave, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be the club’s only recognized first-team striker, with one year left on his current contract and an uncertain future after his captaincy was taken for a discipline breach.
As a result, the club has been associated with a number of strikers, with Calvert-Lewin being one of the most recent names to surface.
Any prospective deal for the England international, who has struggled with an injury that has kept him out for the duration of the season for Everton, would cost the Gunners a lot of money.
His aerial skill has made him a threat in any aspect of the game at the age of 24, and his goal-scoring ability in the league has proved he has the potential to develop into an exceptional striker.
Former Arsenal striker and analyst Alan Smith, on the other hand, believes the striker isn’t the right fit for the club and its style of play.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Smith said: “I wouldn’t say Calvert-Lewin is an ideal fit for Arsenal. In many ways he’s an old-fashioned centre-forward and he loves balls being swung into the box and there’s not many better at getting his head to the ball and attacking it.
“That’s not particularly Arsenal’s game. It can be when they get the full-backs forward and you can imagine Kieran Tierney whipping in crosses from the left towards him.
“If he’s asked to do different things, potentially at Arsenal, be a little bit more intricate in his build-up play, he might have that in his game or even add it to his game.”
Arteta and Edu will undoubtedly make a choice on a forward in the coming months, however only time will tell whether that signing will be Calvert-Lewin or one of the numerous other names associated with the Gunners.
