‘Who Wouldn’t Like Him?’ - Arsenal Linked With Ex-PSG Prospect Compared to Thierry Henry

Arsenal have been strongly linked with a move for former PSG star Hugo Ekitike, who has been finding the back of the net for fun in Germany this season.

Arsenal’s summer striker hunt is taking shape, and the latest name gaining serious traction is Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike. 

The 22-year-old Frenchman has emerged as a prime target for the Gunners, with club scouts spotted watching him closely during both legs of Frankfurt’s Europa League quarter-final clash against Tottenham Hotspur.

Ekitike wasted no time making an impression. Just six minutes into the first leg, he picked up the ball inside Spurs’ half, drove at Pedro Porro, glided past the full-back, and lashed a low shot into the bottom corner. 

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It was a goal that combined pace, power, and precision—and one that instantly lit up Arsenal's radar.

The celebration that followed only added to the buzz. Ekitike slid across the turf in front of the stunned Spurs fans, later reposting an image comparing the moment to Thierry Henry’s iconic knee slide—an Arsenal legend he’s long been compared to. 

When he nearly joined Newcastle from Stade Reims three years ago, he was already being dubbed “the next Thierry Henry” in the North East.

And the comparisons don’t stop at the celebration. Tall, slender, and graceful in stride, Ekitike shares more than just physical traits with the Gunners great. 

Like Henry, he’s a central striker who often drifts wide to torment defenders with his long-legged sprints and composed finishing.

Now, with 20 goals in 41 appearances for Frankfurt this season—including 12 in the Bundesliga—Ekitike has put himself back on the radar of Europe’s elite. For Arsenal, whose lack of depth up front has been exposed by injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, Ekitike represents a potential game-changer.

Mikel Arteta is believed to view him as a dynamic, versatile number nine who can offer both goals and link-up play—an element Arsenal have sorely missed in critical moments of the campaign.

Arsenal facing competition

Arsenal are not alone in their admiration. According to The Daily Mail,  Scouts from Liverpool, Manchester United, and Newcastle were also present during his dazzling display against Spurs. 

And Frankfurt, well aware of the growing interest, are holding out for a fee in the region of €95-100 million—aiming to eclipse the record sale of Randal Kolo Muani to PSG last summer.

Social media is already lighting up with excitement, with fans and pundits alike noting Ekitike’s “star charisma” and Premier League potential.

For Arsenal, a reported £80 million bid would be a bold signal of intent—a move that could either transform their title challenge or be remembered as a costly gamble, especially given the striker’s inconsistent stint at PSG.

Meanwhile, as The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported, Arsenal’s striker shortlist remains fluid. While Arteta is said to be a huge admirer of Alexander Isak, and Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyökeres has also won support from sporting director Andrea Berta, Ekitike is clearly in the frame.

“These situations can fluctuate,” Ornstein wrote. “There are many factors and moving parts… we also hear there’s admiration for Hugo Ekitike, for example, and that’s natural; who wouldn’t like him? It doesn’t mean there is a clear direction of travel yet.”

As the summer transfer window looms, Arsenal must now decide whether Ekitike is the final piece of the puzzle—or whether one of their rivals will make the first decisive move. 

Either way, the Gunners are officially in the race for one of Europe’s most exciting young strikers.