Arsenal identify Serie A star as potential heir to soon to be vacant striking spot

Arsenal will be hoping to extend their unbeaten run to ten games when they welcome lowly Watford to the Emirates on Sunday. 

Mikel Arteta has overseen his side’s impressive run of form since the end of August, when the Gunners were humbled 5-0 by Manchester City.

Since then, Arteta’s side have won five of their seven league games, including a crucial win over bitter North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Despite their good form, Arteta is still planning on hiring new recruits in the new year, and one Italian striker is believed to be top of his list of targets when the window reopens in January.

According to reports in Italy, Torino goal scorer Andrea Belotti has emerged as a target for Arsenal, with his future at the Italian club becoming increasingly uncertain.

Belotti joined Torino from Palermo in 2015

As per TeamTalk, the Italian, who captains the Turin side, looks set to depart the club when his contract expires next summer.

Arsenal, meanwhile, could lose Alexandre Lacazette in the new year with the Frenchman’s contract due to expire next summer and Arsenal considering selling him in January to avoid losing him for free.

The 27-year-old Italy international could, however, act as the perfect replacement for Lacazette, if he is to leave.

Eddie Nketiah could also depart the Emirates in January, having fallen completely out of favour at the club.

That would leave Arteta with only Gabriel Martinelli and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as recognised strikers for next year.

Belotti looks set to leave Torino despite having spent more than seven years with the club and scored 107 goals in 235 games for the Serie A side.

With Belotti able to agree a pre-contract agreement with any club outside of Italy in January, meaning that Arsenal may be encouraged to approach the player in the new year.