Merson and Dixon agree on transfer for Aubameyang's replacement

Paul Merson and Lee Dixon believe that Arsenal should move to replace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang by signing Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

It's been a whirlwind December for the Gunners, who started off the month with back-to-back Premier League defeats before winning five matches on the bounce as the Gabonese striker was banished from the side.

Mikel Arteta dropped Aubameyang from the matchday squad following a disciplinary measure, and proceeded to strip the striker of his captaincy as further punishment.

Arsenal have been in inspired form ever since Aubameyang was dropped by Arteta, and it has led fans to believe that the Gunners are better off without him entirely.

As Arsenal lined up to face Southampton without Aubameyang anywhere near the squad, it was initially an alarming sight, but Arteta hasn't looked back since as Gabriel Martinelli and Alexandre Lacazette have linked up in attack to damaging effect.

Despite their dominance, if Arsenal are to part ways with Aubameyang they will need a replacement, as Eddie Nketiah, Folarin Balogun and Lacazette are all out of contract at the end of the season.

Therefore a January signing could be the missing piece of the puzzle for Arteta to secure an illusive top four spot, as well as easing some of the pressure that next summer is likely to bring.

This opinion has been backed by former Arsenal stars Merson and Dixon, who have agreed on who Arteta should target next as Aubameyang's replacement.

It appears that England international Calvert-Lewin has been identified up as the ideal signing and Dixon agrees, telling the Daily Mail : "Would I like to see Calvert-Lewin at Arsenal? I think yes.

"I think you'd struggle to get one of the top, top strikers like [Erling] Haaland.

"It would be a step up for Calvert-Lewin, no disrespect to Everton. I like him, I think he's got potential to be as good as he wants to be. He is fit and athletic, he is strong and good in the air and a good finisher. I would take him."

Dixon's views have been backed by his former team-mate Merson, who thinks that a deal for Calvert-Lewin could be the difference for Arsenal in their hunt for Champions League football.

Merson told Sky Sports via the Express : "Arsenal need to go out and buy Dominic Calvert-Lewin, as soon as he is fit. Put in a massive bid for him. They need a focal point up front who is good and strong.

"[He would go there] because it's the Arsenal. Tell me a reason why they [Everton] are a bigger club than Arsenal? Arsenal are going to finish above them.

"If Calvert-Lewin goes there, they can get into the top four."

One former Arsenal star that doesn't agree with both Merson and Dixon is Alan Smith, who believes that Calvert-Lewin would not be an 'ideal fit' for the Gunners.

Smith told Sky Sports: "I wouldn't say Calvert-Lewin is an ideal fit for Arsenal. In many ways he's an old-fashioned centre-forward and he loves balls being swung into the box and there's not many better at getting his head to the ball and attacking it.

"That's not particularly Arsenal's game. It can be when they get the full-backs forward and you can imagine Kieran Tierney whipping in crosses from the left towards him. But he's not immediately what I would think of as an Arsenal centre-forward at the moment.

"He's just not the kind of centre-forward I'd immediately think of when it came to an Arteta striker, but I know he is someone they are considering, looking at and wondering perhaps whether they can get hold of him."