West Brom should turn to Arsenal for a genuine difference-maker after Josh Maja hammer blow

West Brom should turn to Arsenal for a genuine difference-maker after Josh Maja hammer blow

The news that high-flyer Josh Maja will be having surgery is a devastating blow to the West Brom team, which has

been hit hard by the New Year blues since Carlos Corberan’s transfer to Valencia.

With Maja sidelined indefinitely, Shilen Patel and Andrew Nestor have been given yet another dilemma to handle as

the most recent development in West Brom’s managerial whirlwind prolongs the hunt for the Spaniard’s successor.

The Nigerian forward’s injury to his lower leg will require surgery, according to the club website, which also stated

that the absence may last “many weeks” without providing a rehabilitation timeframe. Lewis Cox, a journalist with

the Express and Star, has disclosed that the team hopes to see the striker return in the spring.

With 12 goals and two assists in 26 games so far this second-tier season, the Super Eagle striker has been the

Baggies’ bright spot. The frontman’s build-up play and intelligence have made him indispensable to West Brom’s

attack creation, even more so than his goal contribution. He is nearly impossible to replace.

Maja has established himself as a staple in the West Brom starting lineup, starting each of his 26 games to date. This

accomplishment is all the more remarkable given that Maja only made 12 appearances for the Albion the previous

season before suffering an injury that kept him out of action.

Unsurprisingly, his outstanding performances have attracted top-tier interest this winter. There have been rumours

of Chelsea and Spurs scouting the Super Eagle, and many Baggies were prepared for the Nigerian to leave the team

soon.

Albion already struggled with a lack of depth in the forward area, so the revelation has only heightened major fan

concerns over the Baggies’ preparedness for the Championship’s return.

Daryl Dike’s recuperation schedule is still too precarious to be relied upon, and summer acquisition Devante Cole

has only been used in cameo roles, playing just 109 minutes in 10 outings.

Albion is forced to look for a successor in the winter market because Maja’s versatility makes it nearly impossible to

find a substitute on a budget. However, they might come across one outside of the second division and would be wise

to search a high flight for a player who is prepared to take the senior stage by storm.

Albion should look to Arsenal attacker

With Lewis Dobbin’s disastrous stay from Aston Villa, which ended early and left Albion lacking reinforcements,

West Brom has already made one foray into the loan market this season.

Nathan Butler-Oyedeji of Arsenal, however, has had a brilliant start to his time in the U21 ranks and seems to be a

top talent who can fill the large shoes left by the Super Eagle, whilst Dobbin left much to be desired in terms of

clinical calibre.

Although the difference in the standard of opposition must be noted, Butler-Oyedeji is unique in simultaneously

possessing both the creativity and clinical prowess of Maja, something which has the potential to be devastating in

the second tier.

The Gunner is a natural goalscorer, classified as the joint second-top goalscorer in the PL2 ranks and joint-top for

assists in the division, but is also a powerful and fast runner, something the Albion squad presently do not possess

enough of to hurt teams on the counter-attack.

His strong play also saw him won the PL2 Player of the Month title for August and earned him another nomination

in November.

Being one of the few players who demonstrates both the Nigerian forward’s goal-scoring ability and inventiveness,

the 22-year-old might be crucial to the team’s support in Maja’s absence if he can swiftly adapt to the second division

and the Baggies style.

Butler-Oyedeji should be a straightforward acquisition with Arsenal faltering in the FA Cup

Football Insider reported that Borussia Mönchengladbach expressed interest in signing the striker in October,

despite the 22-year-old’s strong start upon returning to The Emirates in the PL2 division following a disappointing

loan spell in which he failed to score in 14 appearances for League One team Cheltenham Town.

Despite being listed on the bench for Arsenal’s FA Cup exit match against Manchester United over the weekend,

Butler-Oyedeji is still a Gunner and has not yet played a senior minute for the North London team. No reported bid

has ever been made.

Arsenal’s failure to qualify for the next round of the domestic tournament also likely prevents the forward from

seeing any action in Arsenal’s senior squad this term, with just the Premier League and Champions League

remaining in the North London club’s calendar beyond potentially one more League Cup game, both tournaments

Butler-Oyedeji is unlikely to feature in and opening the door for a potential loan.

The young Gunner appears to have every quality that could be crucial in Albion’s play-off push and once again make

them a team to fear in the second division, but it is unclear if Butler-Oyedeji would be able to duplicate his excellent

form with the gap in class in the second division. The 22-year-old has yet to score his first senior goal.

Above all, with promotion rivals Sheffield Wednesday, Watford, Bristol City, and Blackburn Rovers all within three

points of West Brom, the team will need to move quickly to locate a replacement for their injured striker.

Albion cannot afford any slip-ups as every encounter nearing the business end of the season becomes vital, and must

make a forward addition as swiftly as possible in the wake.

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