As the Premier League season heats up, Arsenal face a crucial challenge. The team is actively searching for striking reinforcements to strengthen their squad, particularly in the wake of injuries that have hit key players.

In the world of football, where the line between victory and defeat is as thin as a referee’s whistle, Arsenal find themselves in a bit of a pickle.

With their main man Gabriel Jesus sidelined due to injury, the Gunners are scouring the market for offensive reinforcements.

Enter Joshua Zirkzee and Brian Brobbey, a duo apparently lighting up Arsenal’s radar.

Zirkzee, a Dutch 22-year-old plying his trade at Bologna, has caught the eye with his striking prowess, netting eight goals this season in all competitions.

However, luring him away from the Italian outfit mid-season is akin to convincing a Gooner that Tottenham has charm – a task deemed ‘very complicated’ by The Telegraph.

Marco Di Vaio, Bologna’s sporting director, is not one for January sales, it seems.

Zirkzee’s tally of seven Serie A goals and a total of 12 goal involvements in all competitions has not only drawn admiring glances from Arsenal but also from the likes of Manchester United, AC Milan, and Juventus.

Fabrizio Romano, the oracle of transfer news, chimed in on Arsenal’s interest in Zirkzee. “Joshua will not leave in January,” he declared, dousing the flames of any potential winter move.

Discussions about Zirkzee’s future, including any talks of a buy-back by his former club Bayern Munich, are also reserved for the summer months, it seems.

On the other flank of Arsenal’s transfer radar is Brian Brobbey, currently showcasing his skills at Ajax.

Brobbey’s connections with Manchester United, through manager Erik ten Hag and former teammates Antony and Lisandro Martínez, have put the Red Devils in the mix for the 21-year-old’s signature.

But, with United’s purse strings tighter than a Scrooge McDuck’s vault, their hopes hinge on the possibility of loan deals or the unlikely event of a major outgoing transfer. Anthony Martial has been linked with an exit, but it seems he prefers to hang on for a free move in the summer.

Brobbey’s tally this season – 12 goals and four assists in 24 games – certainly adds weight to his credentials.

Having joined Ajax last summer from RB Leipzig for a cool €16.35 million, the Dutchman’s contract stretches until the summer of 2027.

Now, let’s talk about Arsenal’s conundrum. The need for a ‘real striker’ is as evident as the frustration on Mikel Arteta’s face.

Gabriel Jesus, despite clocking 1,286 minutes over 21 matches, has only managed seven goals and three assists. With the rest of the team struggling to chip in with goals, that’s not quite cutting the mustard for a team with title aspirations.

Liverpool, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Tottenham, Brighton, and Newcastle have all scored more in the league this season.

This lukewarm showing in front of goal has put the Gunners on high alert for a potent striking force. We can not add Zirkzee and Brobbey to that apparent growing wish list.

However, Arsenal, having already splashed over €200 million last summer, are also walking a financial tightrope.

So, while the club’s need to strengthen its attack is clear, it seems any significant investment in Zirkzee or Brobbey (or any of the other dozen or so strikers linked) might have to wait until the summer transfer window.

Zirkzee is valued at around €30m and is under contract until 2026. Brobbey, meanwhile, is valued at €15m.