Which strikers could Arsenal buy in the summer to lead them to the title?

Although Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is reluctant to publicly admit it, Arsenal's hopes of contending for the Premier League title this season have all but evaporated. After a goalless draw against Nottingham Forest, the second-placed Gunners are now 13 points behind league leaders Liverpool, and the team's lack of firepower up front has once again become a major talking point.

In their last two Premier League matches, Arsenal have managed a total of 33 shots, but only 3 were on target, and they failed to score. This marks the first time since May 2023 that they have failed to score in two consecutive league games. With no available strikers, midfielder Mikel Merino was forced to play as a makeshift forward.

Arteta said: "We controlled the game and tried different ways. We persevered, but lacked inspiration, lacked the final pass to unlock a very organised team. We have to generate more shots on target." He emphasized the need for increased precision and creativity in their attacking play.

There is no doubt that injuries to Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Kai Havertz have impacted Arsenal. But there is no doubt that they will step up their search for a goalscorer in the summer. Former Gunners goalkeeper David Seaman admitted on BBC Radio 5 Live: "We have always needed a goalscorer. We have tried in the transfer windows, and hopefully one will come in the summer, but it might be a little too late." He added: "That will be the final piece of the puzzle. Hopefully that will be the key to winning the title next season."

However, finding that missing piece of the puzzle won't be easy for Arsenal, as Premier League rivals Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and Aston Villa are also likely to be in the market for forwards in the summer. Here are some forward options that could dominate the summer transfer market:

Jonathan David (Lille) Lille striker Jonathan David is currently third in the Ligue 1 scoring charts with 12 goals, having scored 12 goals in 21 games, as well as 8 goals in Champions League qualifying and league stages. The 25-year-old Canadian international is expected to be one of the most sought-after players in the summer, with his current contract expiring at the end of the season.

Liam Delap (Ipswich) England U21 forward Liam Delap has been in excellent form since his summer move from Manchester City to Ipswich Town for an initial fee of £15 million, having already scored 10 goals in the Premier League despite his club struggling at the bottom of the table. If Ipswich are relegated, there will be no shortage of teams making offers to sign their main striker in the summer.

Viktor Gyökeres (Sporting Lisbon) Former Coventry City forward Viktor Gyökeres is one of two Swedish strikers on the list and has been in outstanding form for Sporting Lisbon this season. The 26-year-old has been linked with a move to Manchester United, which would reunite him with former Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim, but his goalscoring record is attracting interest from clubs across Europe. His contract reportedly includes a €100 million (£83.1 million) release clause.

Alexander Isak (Newcastle United) Swedish international Alexander Isak has been one of the stars of the Premier League this season, playing a crucial role in helping Newcastle reach the League Cup final. Newcastle are adamant that they do not want to sell the 25-year-old, who has become the seventh-fastest player to reach 50 Premier League goals. But if his team misses out on European football qualification, as they have this season, would the player consider leaving?

Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace) Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta has been in excellent form this season, enjoying a rich vein of form with 8 goals in 9 games in 2025. Earlier this month, former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott said on "Match of the Day" that he would like to see the 27-year-old move to the Gunners, stating: "Mateta is playing with so much confidence. He is always a threat and is constantly running. He likes to press, and his link-up play with the players behind him is crucial."

Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, on loan from Napoli) In the 2022-23 season, Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen helped Napoli win their first Serie A title since 1990. He was expected to leave the club permanently last summer, but instead joined Turkish side Galatasaray on loan, where the 26-year-old has been in blistering form. His goals this season include a brace in their 3-2 Europa League win over Tottenham Hotspur in November.

Mateo Retegui (Atalanta) Italian international forward Mateo Retegui is the leading goalscorer in Serie A for the 2024-25 season, having scored 21 goals for Atalanta. The 25-year-old has already featured for his team in the Champions League this season and has been linked with a move to the Premier League this summer, with Arsenal and Manchester United reportedly interested.

Benjamin Šeško (RB Leipzig) Slovenian forward Benjamin Šeško has long been linked with a move to the Premier League as he continues to rapidly build his reputation at RB Leipzig. The 21-year-old stands at 6 feet 5 inches tall, and his price tag won't be cheap, as he signed a new long-term contract with the German club in the summer.

Dušan Vlahović (Juventus) Serbian forward Dušan Vlahović, whose contract expires in June 2026, is another tall target man who has long been linked with a move to the Premier League. The 25-year-old stands at 6 feet 3 inches tall and is enjoying another excellent season in Italy with Juventus, who signed him in January 2022, when Arsenal missed out on the forward. Vlahović also scored in Juventus's 2-0 Champions League win over Manchester City in December.

Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) In the final days of the winter transfer window, Arsenal made a late bid for England forward Ollie Watkins, but Aston Villa rejected the reported £40 million offer. Villa are in the last 16 of the Champions League but are only 10th in the Premier League table, and if Unai Emery's side fails to qualify for European competition, then the Gunners could consider making another move for the 29-year-old.