Finally Done: Arsenal finally completes their last summer signing as another dangerously aggressive attacker joined the Gunners on six-years deal
It’s been an unusually busy summer of business for Arsenal so far this year.
New Sporting Director Andrea Berta is doing his best to help Mikel Arteta’s side finally get over the line in the Premier League or Champions League next season, as his team have already secured six first-team additions.
The two most significant arrivals have undoubtedly been Viktor Gyokeres, who racked up 67 goal involvements in 52 games last season, and Martin Zubimendi, who has been one of the most sought-after sixes in world football over the last couple of years.
Yet, even with all this business, the Gunners appear intent on adding more talent to their impressive squad, and while Eberechi Eze seems to be high on their list, there is another international they’ve been previously linked with who could be an even better addition.
Why Arsenal want to sign Eze
While teams can sometimes keep their interest in players under wraps during transfer windows, that has most certainly not been the case here, as Arsenal’s desire to sign Eze has been very public this summer.
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The Crystal Palace ace has already been in talks with the Gunners, and until the 15th of August, he has a release clause worth around £68m in his contract, although it looks like the North Londoners will wait for that to expire to enter into proper negotiations with the South Londoners.
It’s likely to be an expensive transfer regardless, if it goes through, but it’s not hard to see why the Premier League runners-up are so interested in the Englishman, as he was nothing short of sensational last season.
For example, despite playing for a mid-table side at best, the midfield “magician,” as dubbed by pundit Micah Richards, was able to score 14 goals and provide 11 assists in 43 appearances, totalling 3303 minutes.
That means the 27-year-old was able to maintain an average of a goal involvement every 1.72 games, or every 132.12 minutes, which is the sort of output that could be a real difference-maker for the Gunners next season.
Moreover, the Greenwich-born ace proved he’s a big-game player by scoring in the quarter-final, semi-final and final of the FA Cup to secure the Eagles the first major title of their existence.
Yet, if the final price tag for Eze remains where it is, or even rises if other teams join the race, Arsenal may want to look at other alternatives, one they’ve already been linked with this summer: Ademola Lookman.
Arsenal could sign Lookman instead
Arsenal have been linked with Lookman several times over the last year or so, with stories from late last month claiming that they had made enquiries about him over a potential £43m transfer.
Interestingly, it initially seemed the Nigerian international would be joining Inter Milan, but Atalanta has now blocked that move, stating he’s free to leave, but not for another Italian club.
In other words, the door has been well and truly opened by the Bergamo outfit, and due to his incredible form over the last few years, the Gunners should be looking to take advantage and make the 27-year-old an alternative to Eze.
In fact, he looks like he’d be a better signing than the Englishman, as when it comes to output, he’s been nothing short of miraculous in Italy.
Since moving to the Serie A side in August 2022, the “world-class” attacker, as dubbed by the BBC’s John Bennett, has scored a brilliant 52 goals and provided 25 assists in 118 appearances, totalling 7538 minutes.
That means the former Everton flop has averaged a goal involvement every 1.53 games or every 97.89 minutes on the continent, which is frankly outstanding.
He’s not just a flat-track bully either, though, as he proved that he relishes the biggest stages last season, when he scored a breathtaking hat-trick against Xabi Alonso’s then-unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final.
In short, Lookman is a goalscoring machine and someone who’s got the mentality to win his team the biggest of games.
Therefore, while he might not be the player every fan wants, Arsenal should consider signing him over Eze this summer.
