Arsenal want to sign £70m star who’s “England’s best winger”

Arsenal could properly have conceded the Premier League this season however 2024/25 has not been a whole write off so far as Mikel Arteta is worried.

It has been a coming-of-age story for the Gunners in Europe, who, after being dumped out by Bayern Munich a yr in the past, are within the semi-finals of the Champions League the place they may face PSG.

Whether or not or not Arsenal win the continent’s premier competitors, their inventory within the international recreation has risen this yr after defeating Actual Madrid.

A lot might be enthused by the concept of enjoying for a membership on the rise and lots might be enthused by enjoying alongside a sure Bukayo Saka, Madrid’s tormentor.

Saka’s Arsenal return in numbers

When Saka went down with a hamstring damage towards Crystal Palace in December, stress ranges across the Emirates Stadium elevated considerably.

As much as that time, this was a participant arguably having one of the best season of his profession so far, having scored 9 targets and registered 14 assists throughout all competitions.

Since his damage, the Gunners seemed a shadow of the crew everyone knows they are often. That, after all, was not helped by additional accidents to Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.

Nonetheless, Saka’s absence was felt the toughest, even when Ethan Nwaneri got here in and made a huge impact.

Nicely, the Englishman is now again and regardless of solely enjoying 183 minutes throughout 5 league outings, he is made a hell of a return.

The huge ahead scored inside minutes of his comeback towards Fulham after which was in dazzling kind throughout each legs towards Madrid.

Saka recurrently had the beating of David Alaba within the 3-0 win on the Emirates after which, regardless of his missed penalty kick on the Bernabeu, recovered to attain Arsenal’s first objective on the evening, latching onto Mikel Merino’s deft go to beat Thibaut Courtois.

That mentioned, regardless of Martinelli’s return to kind, notching towards Madrid and Ipswich, they should signal a left winger.

Arsenal’s hopes of signing a brand new winger this summer season

Quite a lot of new forwards have been linked with the membership in latest weeks. Nico Williams of Athletic Bilbao is a reputation who refuses to go away whereas talks had been reportedly held with Kingsley Coman’s camp to establish whether or not a summer season transfer can be attainable.

Then there’s Barcelona’s Raphinha. Hailed as “one of the best participant on this planet” this season by one data-led analyst, Arsenal have reportedly been instructed they might signal him for about £80m this summer season if the participant desires to go away.

However, contemplating his standing as a Ballon d’Or contender, it could be a shock to see him exit Camp Nou. So, enter Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens.

In accordance with journalist Graeme Bailey, Chelsea have put the English winger on the high of their switch wishlist this summer season, however they may face competitors, mainly from Arsenal.

It is reported that there was curiosity from the Gunners in a participant who may value round £70m this summer season, cheaper than the aforementioned worth for Raphinha.

How Jamie Gittens compares to Bukayo Saka

Whereas Saka has been wreaking havoc from the right-hand aspect in an Arsenal shirt over an prolonged time frame, the left aspect of the ahead line has been a little bit of an issue.

Everyone knows the qualities Martinelli can carry to this Arsenal crew on his day, however during the last two years he is been an inconsistent determine, struggling to dwell as much as that 15-goal marketing campaign of 2022/23.

In 2023/24, he discovered the web on simply eight events and this time round, he is scored 9 targets. As for Leandro Trossard, whereas he did bag 17 final season, he is solely scored ten occasions in 50 appearances.

So, whether or not or not it’s Williams, Raphinha or Gittens, Arteta wants one other huge participant. Gittens might be his man.

Celebrated as “England’s subsequent famous person” by the German media and thought to be “England’s greatest winger in 2024/25” by Sky Sports activities’ Dougie Critchley, it is evident to see why he is been garnering appreciable hype, notably this time period.

He is “electrical” within the phrases of information analyst Ben Mattinson, scoring 12 targets and supplying 5 assists throughout all competitions he is performed in.

Like Saka, he is a goalscorer, however the main distinction between the 2 is that Gittens is but to essentially show himself as a artistic outlet. Nonetheless, in loads of different areas, loads of parallels might be drawn.

When assessing the numbers, it is evident right here that Saka may be very a lot the first creator out of the 2. That being mentioned, they’re each ‘carry-first’ attackers.

They like to get on the ball and that is confirmed by the truth that each of them common an identical variety of carries per 90 minutes. It is simply that Gittens, working in a extra direct Dortmund aspect, averages extra progressive carries, though not by very a lot.

Because the aforementioned Mattinson eludes to, he is “unpredictable in 1v1s”, possessing the “pretty capability” to both style a cross or shot on each toes.

That is very very similar to Saka, who in the previous few years has turn out to be much more adept on his proper. Not solely does he minimize inside however he can even beat you on the surface. That is very a lot what Gittens is about.

So, whereas the 20-year-old nonetheless has loads of growing to do, it isn’t every single day you possibly can signal an English expertise as thrilling as this. He’d be an excellent foil to Saka on the left aspect of Arsenal’s three-prong assault.