‘I’d start him ahead of Jesus’: Pundit would sign £98m ace for Arsenal, rivals don’t want him
Darren Bent has stated that he would happily take loaned-out Chelsea star Romelu Lukaku at Arsenal and start him ahead of Gabriel Jesus.
There is the suggestion that Romelu Lukaku, who is thriving in Italy with Inter, is misunderstood and not appreciated enough in English football.
Well, his £98 million transfer to Chelsea in 2021 (Sky Sports), and the struggles after, haven’t helped matters, with Bent adding that he would start for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal by benching Gabriel Jesus, as he told talkSPORT Drive (31/05/23 at 4:45 pm).
Whilst there is talk about Lukaku’s future upon his return to Chelsea in July, he has the small task of playing the Champions League final next week.
Inter will lock horns with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in Istanbul, as the Italian giants have the chance to win another European crown, in comparison to Man City’s first.
But where does Lukaku’s future lie in the long run? Well, for Bent, if he had the chance to take him at Arsenal, then he would
“You know what you are getting with Lukaku, he is strong, quick and powerful,” said Bent. “His hold-up and link-up play has got better in Italy. But that’s not one of his strengths.
“His strengths are running in-behind, using his power, his brute strength, his finishing and his pace. It’s almost like, they get him and they then turn him into something that he’s not. Your hold-up play isn’t good, so we are going to work on that. That’s not why you signed him
“He’s not Harry Kane. He doesn’t spray passes. He doesn’t do all of that. I don’t think he is interested in that, to be honest – his goalscoring record is no fluke.
On if he would have him at Arsenal: “Yes,” responded Bent. “Without a doubt. I am not getting rid of anyone, but I would have him. He would get us more goals than Gabriel Jesus. What Jesus is doing at Arsenal is brilliant. But there are times, he would frustrate me because he wasn’t in the box enough. But Lukaku, I know he is in there. I would have them both. I would start Lukaku down the middle ahead of Jesus.”
LUKAKU SHOULD STAY AT INTER
It’s great looking at things in hindsight, but he shouldn’t have left Inter during his first spell.
It was a mistake going back to Chelsea because it just went horribly wrong and now he should look to secure a permanent transfer to the Champions League finalist
Yes, Chelsea need a striker and Mauricio Pochettino would do a better job in getting the best out of Lukaku than other have, but there is no point in taking that risk because if it goes wrong again, then his reputation will take even further blows.
