Arsenal have been urged to step up their interest in Karl Etta Eyong as fears of a failed Premier League title bid run high.
The Gunners and Manchester United And Chelsea have been scouting the Levante striker this season, The Pitch Prospect revealed in November.
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None of the three have yet made a meaningful move for the Cameroon international, but West Ham have made an initial inquiry.
Earlier this month, The Pitch Prospect confirmed that Barcelona are actively looking for new striker options, with Robert Lewandowski set to become a free agent in June and Eyong on their radar.
However, European football expert Andy Brassell believes the latter is “a real Arsenal striker” who would work for Mikel Arteta.
Eyong, who joined for £2.5million last summer, has scored nine goals in LaLiga, all of which came within the first ten gameweeks.
Eyong stats and playing style
In mid-November, the 22-year-old was only behind Kylian Mbappe in terms of performance in the Spanish top flight before a dry spell began as Levante slipped into the relegation zone.
Still, Brassell told The Pitch Prospect.com: “He was really good.”
“Levante was in the relegation zone for almost the whole season, [but] Eyong is capable of competing and making an impact in the biggest games.
“It would be a big jump to come from Levante and do pretty well there, to be productive at Arsenal, because at the moment, despite the defeat [Manchester] United and Arsenal are so good that you really believe that only the very best are capable of cracking this team.”
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Karl Etta Eyong to Arsenal
Eyong’s six LaLiga goals this season means a better performance than any Arsenal player in the Premier League.
Viktor Gyokeres and Leandro Trossard managed just five, one ahead of Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Mikel Merino and Eberechi Eze.
On how Eyong would fit in, Brassell added: “As a medium-term candidate, I could definitely see him working for Arsenal.”
“Why? I think he’s really an Arsenal-type striker. One of those guys who could fit in various spots above the top three.”
“I think you could see him contributing from a wide position. He can also drop inside and score goals.”
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Eyong’s move to Arsenal ‘makes enormous sense’
“It’s not huge, but it’s good in the air,” Brassell continued.
“There are so many elements that recommend him, not just as a Premier League player but also as an Arsenal player.”
“If it’s about Arsenal getting someone like him and keeping him for the future, I think that would make a huge amount of sense.”
Arsenal, like Eyong’s other suitors, will have to wait until the summer to officially make their move for the young striker.
Levante’s number 21 had already played and scored for Villarreal this season before moving to his domestic rivals.
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This means that he will no longer be able to make another move in January as players are prohibited from playing for three clubs in one season.
This could be a huge blow to Arsenal, who have failed to win any of their last three league games and could use the extra firepower.
On the title race, Inside Gooners presenter Harry Symeou said: “City aren’t showing at the moment that they can make a run like that, but in the back of your mind you know they could do it.”
“And that’s why I’m still a bit worried and nervous and I’m not going to say it was done, even when we were seven points ahead, because that’s in them.
“At Aston Villa, I don’t think Aston Villa have what it takes. But it’s the fear that it could be Unai Emery that makes it worse for me.”
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“Every time we play them or give up points, something happens where people get really revisionist and say, ‘He should have stayed’ and ‘He should have had more time’.”
“He is absolutely the right manager for Villa. He was not the right manager for Arsenal. That is (a) fact. And that is my concern for them.”
“But I wonder if he can get a little further with him in the Europa League and say: ‘Right, that’s my thing’.”
“Is he starting to prioritize (the Europa League) so that they drop down the league?
“That’s one of the reasons I’m not that afraid of them at this point.”