A weekend of celebration, jubilation, and indeed for many a merry Gooner, intoxication. Though, with a long summer now ahead for Arsenal Football Club, attentions are already beginning to turn towards exactly how Arsène Wenger might strengthen his squad for the upcoming campaign. Just as it has done since the much-maligned departure of a certain Dutchman, the question of who will be brought in to lead Arsenal’s frontline remains one firmly on the minds of supporters.
But with newspaper columns and social networks laden with the names of just about every forward under the sun, perhaps the answer might very well lie with a striker who has scored on no fewer than 92 occasions over the last three years, who would be relatively cost-effective, and who is even named after the ‘King of Pop’ himself. Perhaps the answer is Jackson Arley Martínez Valencia.
FC Porto’s capitão and No. 9, Jackson has been quietly filling the boots of Colombian compadre Radamel Falcao since the former’s £8 million arrival on European shores. Described by Tim Vickery as “an out-and-out goalscorer, a front-to-goal centre-forward who can finish off both feet”, the Quibdó-born striker enjoyed his most fruitful season in front of goal during 2014/15, netting 32 times in all competitions and in doing so earning a third consecutive Bola de Prata award as Primeira Liga’s top scorer. However, with agent Jorge Mendes now said to be on the prowl for a club able to take Jackson away from the Portuguese province, could Arsène Wenger be the one to take a gamble on the rather pleasantly nicknamed Cha Cha Cha?
At 28 years-old however, age will certainly be an import consideration for the manager, with Jackson only a few days younger than potential adversary, Olivier Giroud. If nothing else though, Martínez’s experience would only add to an Arsenal attack much in need of a new centrepiece, with 35 Colombian caps to his name only illustrative of the quality possessed by the former Independiente Medellín man. Whilst not often mentioned within the same breath as the likes of Sergio Agüero and Luis Suárez, both a strong physical and mental ability suggest that the fellow South American is ready-built for the brutality of Premier League football. In very much the form of his career too and with a real scarcity of truly ‘world class’ striking options available, Arsenal would only benefit from providing David Ospina with a Jackson Martínez-shaped compatriot this summer.
Despite the presence of issues surrounding his age, Señor Martínez undoubtedly ticks a number of Arsenal-required boxes. Strong. Prolific. Tenacious. Traits which at times haven’t all been shared by the often frustrating figure of Olivier Giroud, and ones which would only contribute to Arsenal’s ambitions of obtaining yet more silverware in the coming season.
With the Colombiano himself also expressing that “if I had the occasion to play there [Arsenal], I would say yes”, the proverbial ball appears very much in the possession of Arsène Wenger. Whatever might happen, the question of whether Jackson Martínez is indeed the frontman Arsenal need feels increasingly like an agreeable one. Though, whether or not he is in fact the best option however, remains one which I hold no envy in having the task to answer.
