Arsenal begins work to sign a £85 million winger

Whether Arsenal agrees to the issue that has regressed this season, there is one undeniable statement that no one can discuss.

Gunners will need more firepower to take them to the next level in their 2025/26 campaign.

Just a year ago, when Mikel Arteta’s men were dumped from the Champions League by Bayern Munich, there was approval that Arsenal was a bit lacking in the forward division. It was with Kai Herberts and Gabriel Jesus.

A year later, they traveled to Paris and tried to reach their first Champions League final since 2006. Naturally, they ended the competition. Arteta and skipper Martin Odegaard discussed how the tie won in both boxes after the match. PSG was superior in these areas and again not receiving much attacks.

“There’s usually a striker in the box,” Arteta noted how Arsenal was forced to play for the top of Mikel Merino in place of the injured Jesus and the shelter.

A year after their previous exit from the competition, somehow their forward line looked even worse. If they move forward through the next period, it is most important to sign more forwards.

How Arsenal can strengthen their forward line?

Names an attacker could have linked it to Arsenal in recent weeks and months.

Of course, Arsenal’s top priority is Newcastle’s Alexander Isaac, and BBC’s Sami Mokbell revealed he was a “dream target” just a few days ago. But as we know, the astronomical asking price of a magpie complicates any movement.

So Sporting’s Viktor Gyoker and Benjamin Sesko are two options. In short, Arsenal has no excuse given the number of options available on the market this summer.

It’s not just the central verse where Arteta needs recruits. Despite talk about the recent extension of Leandro Trossard, they need to improve the left and once again have many options.

Arsenal is reportedly a favorite to sign Borussia Dortmund’s English winger Jamie Gitens, according to the Daily Mail, as the target of his dream at this position is Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams.

However, there is a spicy alternative in the form of AC Milan’s Rafael Rio. This is the mail reported on Saturday on the club’s contender list.

Another report from Italy also speaks of Arsenal’s interest in Portugal’s advancement.

They also run Chelsea, and while in contact with the Serie A side, Arsenal is currently in the race, claiming to “take information” from players when preparing their moves.

It is reported that new sports director Andrea Berta has personally placed him on the club’s nominee list as one of his first businesses.

One stick point could be a valuation of Leao’s 100 million euros (£85 million) as Arsenal will need to recruit several well-known players this summer.

How Rafael Leao improves Arsenal

Arsenal needs a winger, and it needs it as soon as possible. Let’s take a look at the difference between PSG tie and wing play. Most notably, on the other side of Bukayosaka it was tough.

Arteta had uncertainty about Gabriel Martinelli there, but he couldn’t make Achurav Hakimi better through the chance, but Parien had Georgia superstar Kvicha Kvaratzkeria. The demon’s presence in the attack, his merciless speed, close control and dribbling ability make him an absolute nightmare for any defender. He is unpredictable and boasts a talent to go to either side.

That means that, aside from Saka, Arsenal isn’t that much: unpredictability.

In Leao they will find it. In the words of 12 goals scorer, 13 assistants so far this season and data analyst Ben Matinson, the left winger is “absolutely perfect in the moment of breaking the game”, and he is also “a winger that brings fear to defend his fear.” In that sense, he is very similar to the aforementioned Kvaratskhelia.

But there’s another powerful comparison I’d like to touch on here. In 2022, Milan director Stefano Pioli said, “Lieo reminded me of so many Thierry Henry.

Well, as far as Arsenal fans are concerned, isn’t that certainly going to get much better than that? Henry left a gunner as a scorer on the club record, and they dreamed of finding someone with similar traits.

Like Henry, Leao has an incredible burst of pace and boasts a similar, sloppy playing style to Henry. Interestingly, they both stand at 6 feet 2, only highlighting the comparison.

They also have the same trademark style. The Milan star winger loves to run left before cutting the inside over his preferred right leg. Martinelli tried to learn the attributes, but as the numbers suggest, he still leaves what is to be desired.

Looking at the metrics above, it’s probably not surprising that the 25-year-old Leao will leave Leao two years older than Martinelli, but this difference in quality is why Arsenal needs to sign a new winger.

Portugal International may boast the same scoring ability, but he is much more creative and, as you can see from his carrying number, he is far more likely to succeed in not only reaching defense, but also doing so. As Mattinson says, he is a truly horrifying suggestion.

Arsenal’s biggest priority this summer must be to sign strikers, but at Leao we can reach out to one of Europe’s best leftists.