HERE WE GO: Arsenal finally agree to pay a huge amount of money to sign the most aggressive striker in Europe- Medical to hold today and announcement tomorrow
The transfer window may be closing for six days this afternoon, but that won’t stop Arsenal from working on potential deals.
Mikel Arteta’s side finished second in the Premier League for the third time on the bounce this season, and while they managed to make it to the semi-finals of the Champions League, that’ll only fuel the team’s hunger to finally get over the line next year.
The Gunners have been linked to a host of talented players in recent weeks and months, but the one who looks closest to putting pen to paper and moving to North London is Martin Zubimendi.
Yet, as brilliantly talented as the Spaniard is, there is now another international linked with Arsenal, who’d be an even more exciting signing.
Arsenal transfer news
Amazingly, the first reports linking Arsenal to Zubimendi appeared all the way back in January 2023, and while they became a little stronger last summer, they really took off this January.
It was at the start of this year that Sami Mokbel claimed that the Real Sociedad star would be making his way to the Emirates at some point this summer, but since then, there has been some concern among fans that Real Madrid could turn his head.
After all, there has been no shortage of publications from the midfielder’s homeland claiming that Los Blancos would convince him to turn his back on Arteta and join up with Xabi Alonso.
Fortunately, that all seems to be nothing more than paper talk, as respected journalist David Ornstein revealed this morning that the powers that be at the Emirates consider the move to be “done & signed.” At the same time, Real sources claim that the Spanish giants never truly pursued the player.
In yet more good news, the Gunners have now also been linked to another international star, someone who’d be a more exciting acquisition than Zubimendi: Anthony Gordon.
Yes, according to Ornstein’s latest report for The Athletic, the Gunners are now interested in the Newcastle United star.
He claims that the Toon star has his ‘admirers’ at the Emirates, a claim James McNicholas backs up in the same article.
While no price is mentioned, reports from earlier this month linking the player to Liverpool claim he could cost around £80m.
It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Gordon’s ability, it’s one worth fighting for.
Why Gordon will be more exciting than Zubimendi
So, the first thing to say is that when Zubimendi finally makes his way to the Emirates, he will be an incredible signing for Arsenal.
After all, we saw him put in stellar performances for Spain in the semi-final and final of the Nations League, and you don’t get chased by some of the biggest clubs in the world if you aren’t someone special.
However, when it comes down to pure excitement, there is one massive reason why Gordon would provide more of it in North London: his output.
At the end of the day, fans watch football for the goals and attacking trickery which the Newcastle United star should bring to N5 in abundance.
For example, in 48 appearances last season, totalling 3869 minutes, the former Everton star managed to score 12 goals and provide 16 assists, which came out to a superb average of a goal involvement every 1.71 games, or every 138.17 minutes.
Even this year, when he’s not been at his very best, the dynamic “nightmare,” as he described himself, scored nine goals and provided seven assists in 42 appearances, totalling 2946 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.62 games, or every 184.12 minutes.
Ultimately, while Zubimendi will almost certainly help Arsenal tick and will likely help kickstart plenty of attacks from the base of midfield, it’s Gordon who’ll either finish them or help them along by taking on opposition defenders and getting the fans on their feet.
Therefore, while he won’t be cheap, the club should do all they can to sign the Newcastle star this summer, as he’d be a tremendously exciting addition to the team.
