I have to begin this with an admittance that twelve months ago, the idea of Arsenal signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin appealed to me. He was a top Premier League goalscorer and began the 2021/22 season with a goal in each of the opening three games.
However, injury, once again, hit the striker. I recall discussing the idea of Arsenal signing him with Dr Rajpal Brar, a specialist in sporting injuries producing content on the field at 3cb Performance, during the December period of last year.
Asking whether Calvert-Lewin could be attributed as 'injury prone' Dr Brar was hesitant and theorised his experiences were part and parcel of most footballer's careers. However, in reflection and a year on, the fractured toe injury suffered masked other muscular issues going on that were inadvertently revealed by his then manager.
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"He has broken his toe," Rafa Benitez said at the time. "He was training with problems and playing with pain. He had an injury the other day to his quadriceps, and we have to wait two-to-three weeks, maybe more."
Arsenal's pursuit of a striker this summer was a big debate prior to the arrival of Gabriel Jesus. The Athletic reported in the January window that the Gunners had the Everton striker on a list with Dusan Vlahovic and Alexander Isak, of whom they would try, and ultimately fail, to sign.
All these targets had height in common. Interesting that the summer signing is completely different to all three of the prior targets.
Fast forward to the start of a new season, and once again, Calvert-Lewin is injured. Frank Lampard confirmed the news in an interview in which he could provide no timeline for what was described as a freak training ground issue.
"We are assessing Dom's injury," Frank Lampard said. "No timeframe has been confirmed, and we are pretty sure what level it is, so we are hopeful it is not long-term.
"We'll miss him for Chelsea. He was looking in great physical condition and was training really well. It was a freak injury in training, which does happen. It's a shame, but we have to find the solutions to keep ourselves strong without Dominic before he returns."
With this, I am happy to fully retract my desire to see Calvert-Lewin at Arsenal. We've been burned far too many times with injuries from players both prone and seemingly immune prior to the Gunners acquiring them.
Plus, Everton could potentially ask for even more money than we invested in Gabriel Jesus in order to snatch him away. Frankly, the two aren't in the same hemisphere for how well-suited they are to this Mikel Arteta system.
If we want height? Sure, go grab a plan B option on loan for a season to see if it works.
But there is no justification for going big on a classic number nine with aerial threat when our existing options are so solid. A wide player with the versatility to play centrally is the way forward, and I am hopeful that the club moves in the final weeks of the window to sort it.
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