Arsenal kept in the title race by ‘new Lewandowski’ in bittersweet moment for Arteta

Arsenal’s 1-0 loss to Newcastle on Saturday has left them with work to do if they are to win a long-awaited Premier League title, but their hopes were later boosted as Manchester City slipped to a shock loss at Bournemouth.

Though troubled by injury issues, City’s loss on the south coast came as something of a shock, yet the Cherries impressed in their success – just as they did when they beat Arsenal at home a couple of weeks ago.

The victory was in part conceived by Milos Kerkez, who delivered two fine assists from the left flank to boost his chance of a big transfer, but it also came about thanks to a fine finish from Evanilson, who steered home what proved to be the winning goal.

Ironically, the 25-year-old is a player that Arsenal has considered for their own No.9 role as recently as January. Evanilson was still with Porto at that stage, with the Portuguese club trying to tout him to the Gunners for as much as €75 million.

Mikel Arteta’s side were having none of it, and just as they turned their noses up when quoted ludicrous prices for Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen and Benjamin Sesko, it was a deal they did not follow up.

Arsenal’s loss, Bournemouth’s gain

Ultimately, Bournemouth paid €37m for the striker – about half of the figure Arsenal were being quoted – and he has made a rather promising start in the Premier League. Nine matches into his new experience in England’s top-flight and he has three goals.

Evanilson has gone a good job in recent weeks showing Arsenal what they missed out on. As well as playing 82 minutes in the victory over the Gunners, he scored in successive matches against Aston Villa and Manchester City.

The wisdom of Arsenal not recruiting in attack, meanwhile, is beginning to bite the Emirates side.

Kai Havertz has gone three Premier League games without a goal and in Saturday’s loss in Newcastle looked alarmingly off the pace.

Expected to step up has been Gabriel Jesus, but restricted to a few minutes here and there, he has yet to net in the Premier League. Indeed, he only ended a nine-month scoring drought by netting against Preston in the EFL Cup earlier this week. Increasingly, he looks a player who is making up the numbers.

A finisher of the calibre of Robert Lewandowski would, therefore, be welcomed with open arms by Arteta.

And the comparison is one the player likes, having been given a nickname based on the Barcelona ace.

“I like Lewanilson. Since Fluminense they gave me this nickname. Now some FC Porto fans also treat me like that,” he said in 2022. “Lewandowski is a great reference in my position and is a great player. I’m happy with the nickname Lewanilson.”

Arsenal, meanwhile, will have been delighted to see Evanilson score against Man City, but they will equally regret not having him in Arteta’s ranks as they struggle for goals in attack.