Imagining an Arsenal Side with Jackson Martinez in Attack

With the news that Jackson Martinez has agreed to join Atletico Madrid, Arsenal fans will be left wondering what might have been. 

Although now bound to join up with Diego Simeone in the Spanish capital, there had been whispers that one of Martinez’s potential destinations was north London. According to James Benge of the Evening Standard, Arsenal were hot on the chase of the Colombian international before he agreed upon his switch to La Liga:

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FC Porto have confirmed that Atletico Madrid have committed to paying striker Jackson Martinez's £25 million release clause.

The Colombian forward had been linked with moves to both Arsenal and AC Milan but it is the Spanish side who have stolen ahead, though they will still have to agree personal terms before the signing can be completed.

In a statement on the club's official website Porto confirmed: "This Tuesday, Atletico de Madrid informed Futebol Clube do Porto – Futebol, SAD that they will pay the release fee for player Jackson Martinez, worth 35 million euros.”

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It’s easy to see why Martinez might have been on Arsenal’s radar, as he is one of the most consistently prolific strikers in Europe. Arsenal’s current first-choice centre-forward, Olivier Giroud, has come under fire for occasionally lacking a predatory instinct. The same could not be said of Martinez, who scored 67 goals in 90 league games for Porto, finishing up as the Primeira Liga’s top goalscorer in each of his three seasons there.

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Since the 28-year-old moved to Porto in 2012, he has established a global reputation as a lethal finisher. Although not quite as physically robust as Giroud, he does still stand at 6’1” so would surely have been able to handle the physical demands of the Premier League.

It’s difficult to envisage both men in the same team—they’re both pure strikers and would want to occupy that coveted centre-forward spot. Therefore, it’s likely that Martinez’s arrival would’ve relegated Giroud to a role as an impact substitute. 

His style of movement is quite different to that of the Frenchman. While Giroud generally prefers to play with his back to goal, Martinez is more keen to make darting runs in behind the centre-backs. That would’ve suited Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla well. Not only would the Colombian have had the upper-body strength to protect the ball, but he would also have offered a nippy target for their perspicacious passing.

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Spanish full-backs Nacho Monreal and Hector Bellerin would also have enjoyed playing with Martinez, who has a repertoire of incredible acrobatics he uses to meet crosses. While Giroud is strong in the air, Martinez tends to prefer attempting volleys and overhead kicks, with occasionally spectacular results.

An Arsenal side including Jackson Martinez would not have been too different. The shape and style of the team would’ve remained fundamentally the same. However, the fact he has a slightly broader skill set than Giroud may have enabled Arsenal to offer a more varied threat in attack. Nevertheless, the chance is gone. When it comes to unearthing a new striker, Arsene Wenger must go back to the drawing board.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout the 2015-16 season. Follow him on Twitter here.