Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has claimed that AS Roma striker Tammy Abraham would fit in perfectly in Mikel Arteta’s side.
Speaking to Genting Casino (h/t GOAL), former Arsenal midfielder and club icon Emmanuel Petit has insisted that the Gunners would benefit from signing former Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham from AS Roma in the summer.
Abraham left Chelsea for Rome last summer after the Blues decided to pursue Romelu Lukaku. While the Belgian has struggled to get going on his return to Stamford Bridge, Abraham has been a revelation in Italy. The Chelsea academy ace has been one of the best-performing forwards in Serie A in his debut season for the Giallorossi.
The 24-year-old has plundered 23 goals from 41 matches in all competitions while registering four assists. Abraham’s tally of 15 goals in the Italian top-flight is bettered by only three players in Dusan Vlahovic (21), Ciro Immobile (21) and Giovanni Simeone (16).
Abraham’s form for Roma has put him on the radars of clubs back in the Premier League, with Arsenal among the suitors, along with Manchester United. Now, ex-Gunners ace Petit has backed his former side to go after the England international, insisting that he would be a perfect fit at the Emirates Stadium.
“Abraham reminds me of Emmanuel Adebayor, his physical presence in the penalty area. Abraham’s reaction when he arrived at Roma has been brilliant because he’s scored 15 [league] goals and has so many assists, so he’s enjoying his football there,” Petit said.
“He went to Italy with the feeling of revenge for what happened at Chelsea. He’s not stupid, he will see what’s going on with the strikers at Chelsea with Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner, they’re struggling. So maybe he’s thinking, ‘it would have been worse for me if I had stayed at Chelsea’. He made the right decision, and he’s having a great season with Roma.
“I’m pretty sure he wants to come back to England and he would fit perfectly at Arsenal because he’s a different player to Alexandre Lacazette with a different style, different physique and he’s a goalscorer. Even at Chelsea he was scoring goals, not as many as he wanted, but he’s 24 years old so he still has a lot to learn.”
Arsenal need a new striker this summer, given that they lost Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang last January while they could see Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah leave as well, with the pair’s contracts expiring soon. Abraham can be an option for the north London club, with the striker hinting that he would be open to returning to England.
