Arsenal told Premier League rival is perfect replacement for injured Bukayo Saka - The Mirror

Bukayo Saka's injury comes as a major setback to Arsenal's title ambitions given how crucial he has been this season, but ex-Gunner Adrian Clarke believes West Ham's Mohammed Kudus is an ideal replacement

West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus would be the "perfect" replacement for injured Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka, according to ex-Gunners star Adrian Clarke.

Arsenal were dealt a huge blow this month after news Saka had torn his hamstring during their 5-1 win at Crystal Palace on December 21. Boss Mikel Arteta initially said his star man would be out for "weeks" before later revealing he had undergone surgery and is now set to be sidelined until March.

It comes as a major setback to the club's title ambitions given how crucial Saka has been this season. He has nine goals and 13 assists in all competitions and is their second-highest scorer behind Kai Havertz.

Former Arsenal star Clarke - who started his career at the club and featured for the team between 1991 and 1997 - has pinpointed Kudus as the ideal player Arteta should target, saying he would be the "perfect" understudy for Saka in the January transfer window.

Kudus has three Premier League goals and one assist for the Hammers, though his progress at the London Stadium has been hampered by the team going through a slump under boss Julen Lopetegui.

Speaking on talkSport, Clarke urged Arsenal to snap up the 24-year-old. He said: "Mohammed Kudus is a player that Arsenal have had a long-term interest in.

"He is a perfect Bukayo Saka replacement who can also do a job up front. Wonderful traveller with the ball at his feet. Could Arsenal test West Ham United’s resolve with a with an offer this month?"

Mirror Football reported that Kudus was a £90m target for Arsenal in November, with the Gunners looking at replacements for Leandro Trossard amid fears he could join a club in the Saudi Pro League.

Arsenal are nine points adrift of league leaders Liverpool at the halfway point of the season and the loss of Saka will make an uphill task of catching them even harder. Clarke feels recruiting more attackers will be crucial to their chances.

"It’s a different sort of pressure having to win, but also knowing that Liverpool have got the pressure of sort of looking over their shoulders," he added. "It’s exciting. Arsenal’s defence is pretty phenomenal at the moment. They’re not really giving opponents a sniff.

"It’s going forward. Do Arsenal have enough goals in them against teams that are really defensive? It’s what Ipswich did last night that’s proving a little bit problematic, and Arsenal will have to get better at it."

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