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Arsenal told they ‘missed a trick’ by not signing ‘fantastic’ £40m Premier League star
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta (Picture: Getty) Arsenal have been told they ‘missed a trick’ by not signing Bournemouth striker Evanilson after he starred against the Gunners at the weekend. Having seen Dominic Solanke leave for Tottenham in the summer, the Cherries moved quickly to secure their replacement in the form of Porto striker Evanilson. The Brazilian arrived on the south coast for a fee of £40million and has quickly found his feet in Andoni Iraola’s side. Despite a lengthy period out with a foot injury, Evanilson has still notched up 12 goals in all competitions in his maiden season in England. And the 25-year-old was on the scoresheet at the weekend, bundling the ball in at the back post as Bournemouth beat Arsenal 2-1 at the Emirates to complete a famous league double over Mikel Arteta’s side. Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Arsenal have played the majority of the season’s run-in without a natural striker after injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus midway through the campaign. The Gunners opted to keep their powder dry and not sign a replacement in January despite a late and unsuccessful bid for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins. Evanlison scored against Arsenal at the weekend (Picture: Getty) But having watched Evanilson score against them at the weekend, Joe Cole reckons Arsenal will be kicking themselves that they didn’t rival Bournemouth for the Brazilian’s signature in the summer. ‘I like him. If you put him in the Arsenal team, I think he’s competing for the Golden Boot,’ Cole said of Evanilson on The Dressing Room Podcast. ‘At the start of the season, they didn’t go for a striker and it’s almost like they are waiting for the perfect one. Why did you not go out and make a bid on Evanilson? Joe Cole thinks Arsenal should have made a move for the Brazilian (Picture: Getty) ‘If Evanilson was at Arsenal, they are a stronger squad straight away. I reckon that adds ten goals and that’s seven or eight points and then the league is much closer and you don’t know what can happen. ‘I just think they’ve missed a trick with this kid. I think his movement is fantastic.’ To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page Former West Ham striker Carlton Cole was equally enthused about Evanilson’s capabilities and, in particular, his throwback style. ‘He’s such a clever striker,’ he said. He’s a fox in the box but also good at linking up play. A proper old-school centre forward. ‘When you look at what Arsenal might need, it’s something like that. Someone that is clever and can read the game. ‘He gets his tap-ins but you have to be in a position to score them. He’s always at that far post and reads the game so well to get into the positions of maximum opportunity.’ Arsenal are expected to reignite their search for a striker in the summer, with Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres emerging as the most likely target. The Swede has scored a remarkable 38 goals in 31 league games this season and reports suggest that Arsenal have now opened talks with his representatives over a potential move in the summer. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Arsenal have been told they ‘missed a trick’ by not signing Bournemouth striker Evanilson after he starred against the Gunners at the weekend.
Having seen Dominic Solanke leave for Tottenham in the summer, the Cherries moved quickly to secure their replacement in the form of Porto striker Evanilson.
The Brazilian arrived on the south coast for a fee of £40million and has quickly found his feet in Andoni Iraola’s side.
Despite a lengthy period out with a foot injury, Evanilson has still notched up 12 goals in all competitions in his maiden season in England.
And the 25-year-old was on the scoresheet at the weekend, bundling the ball in at the back post as Bournemouth beat Arsenal 2-1 at the Emirates to complete a famous league double over Mikel Arteta’s side.
Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
Arsenal have played the majority of the season’s run-in without a natural striker after injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus midway through the campaign.
The Gunners opted to keep their powder dry and not sign a replacement in January despite a late and unsuccessful bid for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.
But having watched Evanilson score against them at the weekend, Joe Cole reckons Arsenal will be kicking themselves that they didn’t rival Bournemouth for the Brazilian’s signature in the summer.
‘I like him. If you put him in the Arsenal team, I think he’s competing for the Golden Boot,’ Cole said of Evanilson on The Dressing Room Podcast.
‘At the start of the season, they didn’t go for a striker and it’s almost like they are waiting for the perfect one. Why did you not go out and make a bid on Evanilson?
‘If Evanilson was at Arsenal, they are a stronger squad straight away. I reckon that adds ten goals and that’s seven or eight points and then the league is much closer and you don’t know what can happen.
‘I just think they’ve missed a trick with this kid. I think his movement is fantastic.’
Former West Ham striker Carlton Cole was equally enthused about Evanilson’s capabilities and, in particular, his throwback style.
‘He’s such a clever striker,’ he said. He’s a fox in the box but also good at linking up play. A proper old-school centre forward.
‘When you look at what Arsenal might need, it’s something like that. Someone that is clever and can read the game.
‘He gets his tap-ins but you have to be in a position to score them. He’s always at that far post and reads the game so well to get into the positions of maximum opportunity.’
Arsenal are expected to reignite their search for a striker in the summer, with Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres emerging as the most likely target.
The Swede has scored a remarkable 38 goals in 31 league games this season and reports suggest that Arsenal have now opened talks with his representatives over a potential move in the summer.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
