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

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

It has been a coming-of-age story for the Gunners in Europe, who, after being dumped out by Bayern Munich a 12 months in the past, are within the semi-finals of the Champions League the place they’ll face PSG.

Whether or not or not Arsenal win the continent’s premier competitors, their inventory within the world sport has risen this 12 months after defeating Actual Madrid.

Loads can be enthused by the concept of enjoying for a membership on the rise and many can 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 in opposition to Crystal Palace in December, stress ranges across the Emirates Stadium elevated considerably.

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

Since his damage, the Gunners regarded a shadow of the group 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 big effect.

Properly, 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 in opposition to Fulham after which was in dazzling type throughout each legs in opposition to Madrid.

Saka usually 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 aim on the evening, latching onto Mikel Merino’s deft go to beat Thibaut Courtois.

That stated, regardless of Martinelli’s return to type, notching in opposition to Madrid and Ipswich, they should signal a left winger.

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

A lot of new forwards have been linked with the membership in current weeks. Nico Williams of Athletic Bilbao is a reputation who refuses to go away whereas talks have been reportedly held with Kingsley Coman’s camp to determine whether or not a summer season transfer could be doable.

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

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

Based on journalist Graeme Bailey, Chelsea have put the English winger on the high of their switch wishlist this summer season, however they’ll face competitors, mainly from Arsenal.

It is reported that there was curiosity from the Gunners in a participant who might value round £70m this summer season, cheaper than the aforementioned value 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 period, the left aspect of the ahead line has been a little bit of an issue.

Everyone knows the qualities Martinelli can convey to this Arsenal group on his day, however over the past 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 objectives. 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 could possibly be his man.

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

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

Like Saka, he is a goalscorer, however the major distinction between the 2 is that Gittens is but to actually show himself as a inventive outlet. Nonetheless, in loads of different areas, quite a lot of parallels will be drawn.

When assessing the numbers, it is evident right here that Saka could be very a lot the first creator out of the 2. That being stated, 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 “beautiful potential” to both trend a cross or shot on each ft.

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 reduce inside however he also can beat you on the skin. That is very a lot what Gittens is about.

So, whereas the 20-year-old nonetheless has quite a lot of creating to do, it is not every single day you possibly can signal an English expertise as thrilling as this. He’d be a superb foil to Saka on the left aspect of Arsenal’s three-prong assault.