Arsenal coach Gabriel Heinze made a surprising move last week, reaching out to Lautaro Martinez, the striker from Inter Milan, in an effort to convince him to join the club. Despite Martinez shining in Serie A, he has not been prominently linked with Arsenal or any other Premier League clubs recently.

The Gunners’ interest in Martinez arose as they sought solutions for their attacking issues. During their pursuit of Julian Alvarez, Mikel Arteta’s assistant, Heinze, reportedly contacted Martinez about a potential transfer to the Emirates Stadium, according to the Daily Mail.

Lautaro Martinez has established an impressive record with Inter Milan, netting 175 goals in 378 games and securing three Serie A titles. However, it remains uncertain how his performances in Italy would translate to English football.

• 29 years old
• 175 goals in 378 games for Inter Milan
• Three Serie A titles

While Martinez could potentially fill a role at Arsenal, he may not represent a significant upgrade over current players like Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres. Thus, the north London club might benefit from waiting for other options to emerge in the January transfer window.

Arsenal has faced criticism for a lack of signings in their attack, with only Christos Tzolis added to their front three this summer. The team has seen notable exits, including Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus, and Gabriel Martinelli is expected to follow.

Tzolis is anticipated to bolster the left flank, but Arsenal remains short in attacking depth, relying heavily on Havertz to maintain fitness. Meanwhile, Gyokeres has yet to make a significant impact, remaining an unused substitute in the first two Premier League matches of the season.