Liverpool have made their stance clear regarding which player they would allow to leave in the upcoming summer transfer window. As per reports from Football Insider, the Reds would allow Darwin Nunez to depart the club ahead of Diogo Jota, with Arsenal keeping a close eye on both players as they have been interested in them for a while now.
Jota’s injury woes have left Liverpool frustrated as he has been unable to play more than 30 games per season consistently. Since joining from Wolves in September 2020, the Portuguese forward has missed close to 100 games via injury for both club and country. Although his contributions are respectable otherwise, Jota’s injury record could push him out of favor at Anfield.
Nunez, on the other hand, is a completely different ball-game altogether. Since joining from Benfica, the Uruguayan has showed his talent in phases and bursts. However, he has yet to make any position in the front three his own, with Jurgen Klopp and now Arne Slot forced to rotate their front three in its entirety.
Both players could fit well at Arsenal, but it remains to be seen whom Mikel Arteta identifies as the proper solution.
Who would be a better fit at Arsenal – Jota or Nunez?
As of now, Arsenal have two players who play two different striker roles for the club when fit. Gabriel Jesus gives Arsenal chaos in the final third, dribbling with the ball and taking on defenders, making runs to wide areas to disrupt the opposition’s shape, and also dropping deep to become an additional passing option.
Kai Havertz, on the other hand, is the primary target-man. He holds up play and brings the wingers into the game even more, battles with the center-backs for aerial supremacy, and offers good defensive and offensive presence on corners.
It is clear that the Gunners are stuck in an either-or situation with Jota seen as Jesus’ replacement or backup, and Nunez for Havertz. However, the latter is three years younger than the former and also offers electric pace – something which has come to become one of the most sought-after qualities in attackers by Premier League sides.
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Nunez can strike the ball with either feet and has the knack of converting chances with very low xG. With the volume of chances a fully-fit Arsenal side can create for him, the two would be a perfect match for one another.
