Arsenal targeting “unbelievable” £100m star

Arsenal want a striker this summer time however with Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko in Andrea Berta’s crosshairs, he is additionally directing consideration in direction of signing a brand new winger.

Actual Madrid’s Rodrygo has been a reputation usually linked with an Emirates Stadium swap this summer time however whether or not that transfer occurs stays to be seen.

One deal that’s definitely unlikely to occur this summer time is Nico Williams, with the Spaniard now reportedly closing in on his dream Barcelona transfer.

Why Arsenal will want a Nico Williams different

After a chic marketing campaign at Euro 2024 final summer time, Williams has been the speak of the city together with his membership, Athletic Bilbao, even heralding him as “among the best wingers on this planet”.

That’s definitely the case and it explains why Arsenal have discovered negotiating a deal tough.

Final winter, it was reported that Arteta was dreaming of signing the Spain worldwide however at no level has a deal ever seemed shut.

Certainly, regardless of contemporary curiosity this summer time, it appears although the attacker is heading to Barcelona.

The most recent was supplied by the Athletic’s David Ornstein on Tuesday morning who claims that each the Gunners and Chelsea have ‘cooled’ their curiosity within the 22-year-old as ‘Barcelona step up pursuit & Bayern Munich contemplate transfer.’

Barca need to do a deal and have already made a contract provide to the younger winger.

So, with that transfer off the desk, the place will Arsenal’s consideration flip subsequent? Maybe Anthony Gordon?

In accordance with a report from the Athletic, Arteta and Co have had three names specifically on their shortlist to enhance their ranks within the broad positions.

Williams was one in every of them, Rodrygo is the opposite and the ultimate identify is Newcastle United’s Gordon.

Arsenal are identified to be long-term followers of the England worldwide, with this report noting that he’s ‘of curiosity’ to the north Londoners and that they’re eager ‘admirers’ of his qualities.

Why Gordon might be even higher than Nico Williams

You do not entice the curiosity of Barca with out being a mighty high-quality participant and in Williams, you may have Spain’s subsequent hope alongside Lamine Yamal on the other flank.

Williams definitely is not as thrilling as Yamal however he is nonetheless one of the promising younger forwards on the European scene.

Nevertheless, his numbers have not really been too spectacular in current seasons. Throughout 2023/24, the Bilbao star scored simply eight occasions in all competitions. Impressively, he did register as many as 18 assists.

This season, he scored 11 targets whereas registering seven assists in 45 video games with solely 5 of these targets coming in LaLiga motion.

As compared, Gordon’s numbers aren’t otherworldly however they’re on par and he is already been producing it within the Premier League.

The 24-year-old scored 9 occasions and posted seven assists in 42 outings throughout 2024/25, which wasn’t fairly as spectacular as his return the marketing campaign prior. In what was the perfect season of his profession, the previous Everton man scored 12 and assisted 16 targets.

So, during the last two years, there is not an enormous quantity to separate them, however what do the opposite numbers say?

Properly, once more there is not a lot to separate them. Williams is extra carry-heavy, but when Arsenal are in search of targets, and they’re, the “unbelievable” Gordon – within the phrases of teammate Bruno Guimaraes – is the higher choice.

Over the previous few seasons, Arsenal have merely been too reliant on Bukayo Saka on the fitting flank to provide you with the products. In 2023/24, he was the membership’s prime scorer with 20 targets and this season, he was proper up there once more regardless of lacking half of the marketing campaign with a hamstring damage.

He ended the marketing campaign on 12 targets, simply three behind main marksman Kai Havertz. As for Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, they suffered from lengthy durations of inconsistency all through the marketing campaign.

The latter scored ten in 56, as soon as each 5.6 video games, whereas the previous scored ten in 51, as soon as each 5.1 outings. As for Gordon, he scored as soon as each 4 matches two seasons in the past and as soon as each 4.6 appearances in 2024/25.

So, with Arteta clearly looking out for targets, Gordon may simply be the person they want this summer time. It is only a pity he boasts an asking value of round £100m. That definitely makes it much less prone to occur.