Arsenal are currently in a bit of a sticky situation.
Mikel Arteta embarked on the 2024/25 campaign with little depth in the wide attacking areas behind Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli – as well as Leandro Trossard.
That lack of depth would have been even more severe had Raheem Sterling not joined on loan from Chelsea just before the transfer deadline.
Now – however – Arteta finds himself without both Saka and Sterling through injury, leaving the Spaniard even more short of options out wide amid a daunting fixture list, which involves ten games in January alone as ground must be made up on Liverpool in the Premier League.
Saka could even be out until March – according to Arsenal insider Team News and Tix.
There is – of course – the January transfer window to rectify this lack of depth, although Arsenal could actually sign attacking cover even before the market opens in the shape of free agent Rafael Camacho.
Arsenal can sign Rafael Camacho for nothing as Bukayo Saka cover
The Arsenal No.7 is a rare profile in football – there are not many wingers around at the highest level who cut inside on their left foot from the right flank.
It is partially why Manchester United paid an astronomical £86m to sign Antony from Ajax back in August 2022.
In Camacho – however – Arteta can sign a similar profile on a free transfer.
Talk about making an impact…
Substitute Rafael Camacho puts Liverpool U19s 2-0 up against Manchester United U19s.
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The 24-year-old was most recently with Ruben Amorim at Sporting CP before his contract expired last summer, spending some time on loan with Aris before entering free agency.
Arsenal wanted Rafael Camacho in 2020
Camacho is – allegedly – known to the Gunners. The Express claimed back in 2020 that Arsenal were keen to sign the Portuguese forward after it became apparent he wanted to leave Liverpool for regular playing time.
Eventually, Sporting CP won the race for his signature, spending £7m to bring the wonderkid – aged just 19 at the time – to Lisbon.
Rafael Camacho of Sporting CP in action during the Liga NOS match between Sporting CP and SL Benfica at Estadio Jose Alvalade on January 17, 2020 i...
Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images
Unfortunately, things did not go to plan for Camacho – who Jurgen Klopp called outstanding in 2018 – at the Jose Alvalade Stadium, scoring just one goal in 26 appearances.
However, we see no harm in Arsenal offering the Lisbon-born attacker a short-term contract, or even a pay as you pay deal, with Saka and Sterling both set for spells on the sideline.
If Camacho – who is still only 24 – rediscovers the talent which made him a £7m teenager rated highly by Klopp, then it could turn out to be a transfer masterstroke by Arteta.
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