It is secure to say this has been a perplexing season for Arsenal, who are actually very prone to end second having secured Champions League soccer for subsequent season.
It got here within the thirty seventh gameweek as Mikel Arteta’s males defeated Newcastle 1-0. It was a recreation that slightly typified the Gunners’ latest kind, reality be advised. Arsenal did not create an enormous variety of openings and left themselves uncovered on the again.
This time, that they had Man of the Match David Raya to thank for his or her victory with the Spaniard making various high-class saves within the opening 45 minutes. Whereas Arsenal do not want a goalkeeper, their end-of-season kind has showcased the place they should strengthen.
Happily, writing earlier than the sport within the programme, Josh Kroenke spoke of the membership’s summer season plans and indicated that they’ll spend, sparking pleasure for what’s to return.
“We plan to speculate to get behind profitable and doing higher subsequent season. We’re delighted we have now our sporting director, Andrea, who will play an vital position on this. He’s a part of a unified and robust crew, supported by the board, who’re crystal clear on precisely what we have to do and the way in which wherein we need to do it. The proper means. The Arsenal means.” – Josh Kroenke.
So, talking of transfers, who’s prone to come via the door?
Arsenal ramping up summer season switch plans
Whereas the largest field to tick this summer season is that of a shiny new centre ahead, the Gunners should additionally hone in on a brand new winger after inconsistent campaigns for each Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.
Martinelli has discovered kind within the again finish of the marketing campaign however has solely scored on eight events within the Premier League. As for Trossard, he is netted the identical quantity in top-flight motion.
Consequently, we have seen continued hyperlinks to Spanish winger Nico Williams and a suggestion that Arsenal are followers of Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon.
Regardless of their want for a brand new winger on the left, they may truly bolster the right-hand facet too. That is as a result of, in accordance with new stories, they’re serious about signing Brentford talisman Bryan Mbeumo.
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That is the phrase of membership insider Teamnewsandtix, who wrote in his newest Patreon entry: “After the information crew recognized him final summer season, Arsenal are focusing on Bryan Mbeumo once more. I’m advised talks are progressing, however they aren’t the one crew in for him.”
The Cameroon worldwide has been nothing wanting a sensation this summer season and can also be attracting the curiosity of Manchester United, in accordance with different stories.
The ahead is allegedly valued at round £51m by the Bees.
The place Mbeumo would match into Arteta’s Arsenal crew
With Bukayo Saka very a lot nonetheless the main mild in Arteta’s lineup, becoming Mbeumo into the equation could also be laborious.
Described as a “Mini Salah” by talkSPORT pundit Jason Cundy, the Brentford star has made a dwelling out of reducing inside from the suitable and bamboozling defenders on his stronger left foot. Because the praise suggests, he is like Salah and, as a matter of reality, he is very very like Saka in that regard.
Whereas Arsenal do want to seek out somebody who’s able to giving the England worldwide a break once in a while, spending £51m on a proper winger when they’re arguably extra in want of a left ahead maybe does not make an excessive amount of sense.
Nicely, luckily, Mbeumo is a flexible participant, most notably enjoying six instances as a centre ahead this season, scoring 4 targets within the course of.
In the meantime, he is performed off the left on 9 events in his profession and he is additionally featured behind the principle striker as a no.10 or second striker 43 instances. Whereas which will properly take away his strongest asset, reducing inside from the suitable, he actually has the power to make a distinction in additional central areas.
So, how does he evaluate with Saka?
|
Mbeumo vs Saka – 2024/25 league solely |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stat (per 90 minutes) |
Mbeumo |
Saka |
|
Objectives |
0.51 |
0.19 |
|
Assists |
0.32 |
0.53 |
|
Pictures |
2.09 |
3.39 |
|
Key passes |
1.84 |
2.96 |
|
Progressive passes |
3.71 |
3.54 |
|
Shot-creating actions |
3.82 |
5.93 |
|
Profitable take-ons |
1.38 |
2.12 |
|
Progressive carries |
3.39 |
4.97 |
|
Stats through FBRef. |
||
Mbeumo has been in outstanding kind this season and ranks fifth within the race for the Premier League Golden Boot, having bagged 19 targets. In all competitions, he is additionally produced 9 assists for his troubles.
When analysing their respective numbers, it is clear the Brentford star is a extra scientific participant in entrance of aim. Regardless of taking fewer photographs per 90 minutes, he is scoring extra recurrently than Saka.
Nonetheless, this will surely be to the benefit of Arteta’s crew. Whereas Mbeumo might be the higher goalscorer, Saka is likely one of the most inventive wingers on the planet and is streets forward in metrics like key passes and shot-creating actions.
Shot-creating actions are items of play that result in a shot. These embody moments corresponding to a move, take-on or foul being drawn.
Sure, there would possible be confusion about Arsenal signing a pure proper winger, however supporters should not flip their noses up at extra targets. This time period, the league’s second-placed facet have scored 67 targets within the top-flight, 16 fewer than Liverpool.
On that foundation, it isn’t a shock to see that the Reds run away with proceedings.
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