HERE WE GO: Arsenal’s first summer transfer signing has just completed his medical to join the Gunners- Five-years deal set to be signed today
Arsenal finished second in the Premier League for the third successive season in 2024/25, and Mikel Arteta knows that he needs to bag himself a new striker to defeat the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City to next year’s title.
Well, with a deal for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko in the works, it seems like the Londoners are finally sorting out that issue, but attacking quality needs to be brought in across other areas too.
Out on the left, Gabriel Martinelli’s future is uncertain, and Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams has been picked as a leading candidate to strength the Gunners’ attacking flank.
However, the Spain star isn’t the only one on the radar, especially after just 11 goals and seven assists from 45 matches in all competitions.
Arsenal, alongside their pursuit of the aforementioned Sesko, might be better off looking at a different La Liga sensation…
Arsenal line up Williams alternative
According to GIVEMESPORT, Real Madrid’s Rodrygo would be willing to sign for Arsenal this summer, but only if his £250k-per-week salary demands are met.
In fact, sporting director Andrea Berta is personally driving the deal forward, having engaged in official talks with Los Blancos and the player’s representatives last week.
Chelsea have also expressed an interest, and it’s felt Florentino Perez would be open to selling for something in the range of £85m.
However, a resolution won’t be reached until Xabi Alonso has taken the time to decide if he considers the Brazil forward as untouchable or not, so don’t hold onto your breath with this one.
What Rodrygo would bring to Arsenal
Rodrygo has been at Real Madrid since his 18th birthday, when he left Santos and his Brazilian homeland in search of footballing riches in the Spanish capital.
The 24-year-old has since scored 68 goals and supplied 50 assists across 267 appearances for Real, notably winning two Champions League trophies and establishing himself as one of the game’s foremost forwards
If Arsenal find themselves in the right position for it, they must move this dynamic attacker in lieu of Williams.
Hailed as a “world-class superstar” by his Real teammate Luka Modric, Rodrygo must be desperate to step away from the shadow of Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe and begin to forge a new future for himself in the Premier League, where he could light up English football on the left flank.
Though he rarely features off the left, Rodrygo believes it is his best position, and when assessing his data from last term, it’s clear to see why.
Bukayo Saka has Arsenal’s right wing on lock, so it makes perfect sense to sign Rodrygo and give him the keys to the position he so desperately wants to nail down. Should Arteta make it happen, we could see some of the “terrifyingly good” finishing the Brazilian is capable of, as has been said by journalist Sam Tighe.
Such potency could see Rodrygo prove an even better fit than Williams, bringing many of the Spaniard’s electric qualities to the table but providing a sharper goalscoring sense too.
As per FBref, Rodrygo ranked among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for pass completion and the top 14% for progressive carries per 90.
Such technical and athletic qualities have actually seen Williams drawn against him as one of his most statistically similar players, so it’s clear he would be a stylistic fit for the Gunners.
Given the need to add goals to Arsenal’s game, Arteta and Berta might be better off forging ahead with a deal for Rodrygo, who only missed one big chance in La Liga last term, scoring six goals.
A new challenge would serve him well, and he’d prove to be a superior choice to Williams while bringing a similar profile. Let’s get it done.
