They may have a season-defining game to come in the Champions League tomorrow night and a second-place finish in the Premier League to secure, but Arsenal seem to be looking ahead to the summer transfer window.
While it's not been quite as catastrophic as some might have you believe, this year hasn't gone entirely to plan for Mikel Arteta's side, so the determination to add some real quality to the squad in the coming months makes perfect sense.
One of the most prominent links, and a player who was touted for a move to the club as far back as last summer, is Nico Williams.
Arsenal-Nico-Williams-Bilbao
The Spanish international is one of the most exciting wingers on the continent, but if recent reports are to be believed, the club could now have identified an alternative target: someone who shares the same agent as Bukayo Saka.
Arsenal's winger search
Given Arsenal's need for more goals next season, it's not been a surprise to see them linked to a plethora of dangerous wingers in recent weeks, such as Rayan Cherki and Kingsley Coman.
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The former is reportedly available for just £30m, which might end up being one of the bargains of the summer, as in just 42 appearances for Lyon this year, the Frenchman has scored 12 goals and provided a whopping 19 assists.
Coman, on the other hand, might be a little less exciting in the eyes of the fans, as while he's managed to rack up a reasonable enough tally of seven goals and four assists in 39 appearances this year, he has an awful injury record, will be 29 at the start of next season, and would cost around £34m.
kingsley-coman-bayern-munich-bundesliga
So, while he's had a sensational career, it wouldn't be accurate to describe him as being a potential upgrade on Williams, unlike the tremendously exciting Jamie Gittens.
Yes, according to a recent report from German publication Ruhr Nachrichten, Arsenal are incredibly interested in the Borussia Dortmund star, who has reportedly told his teammates he will be leaving in the summer and is part of the same agency as Saka.
In fact, while Chelsea are also keen on the young Englishman, the report has revealed that it's the Gunners who are leading the race for his signature, partly down the clearer pathway to game time and the more stable nature of the club.
It wouldn't be a cheap transfer to get over the line, with the report claiming that Dortmund will want up to €60m for the player, which is about £51m, but given his ability and potential, that may be a price worth paying, especially as he could be an upgrade on Williams.
Gittens fbref stats (1)
How Gittens compares to Williams
Okay, so while Gittens can play off the right - and has even played up top at points - his preferred position is undoubtedly left-wing, which in turn makes it unlikely that Arsenal would sign him and Williams.
So, with that in mind, who comes out on top when we compare them?
Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Bynoe-Gittens in action
Well, when it comes down to their raw output, even though it is a little complicated, the Dortmund star does come out on top.
For example, in 46 appearances this season, totalling just 2783 minutes, the 20-year-old "wonderkid," as dubbed by Statman Dave, has scored 12 goals and provided five assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.70 games, or far more consequently, every 163.70 minutes.
In contrast, the Athletic Bilbao star has scored 11 goals and provided seven assists in 44 appearances, totalling 3050, so while he has an average of a goal involvement every 2.44 games, his minutes per goal involvement of 169.44 is marginally worse than his potential rival.
Moreover, when we take a look under the hood, at their underlying numbers, it's once again a closely run competition in which the Englishman just about comes ahead.
Gittens vs Williams
Statistic
Non-Penalty G+As
Progressive Passes
Progressive Carries
Shots
Shots on Target
Passing Accuracy
Key Passes
Expected Assists
Passes into the Penalty Area
Shot-Creating Actions
Tackles Won
Interceptions
Successful Take-Ons
Carries into the Final Third
Carries into the Penalty Area
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season
For example, he comes out ahead for a slight majority of relevant metrics, including, but not limited to, non-penalty goals plus assists, expected assists, shots and shots on target, passing accuracy, progressive carries, successful take-ons, carries into the penalty area, tackles won and more, all per 90.
Ultimately, regardless of which winger they do eventually sign, Arsenal will be getting someone who can contribute in the here and now and continue to develop into an even more exciting attacker as time goes on.
Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Bynoe-Gittens in action with GNK Dinamo Zagreb's Kevin Theophile-Catherine
However, when it comes down to it, Gittens just about comes out ahead of Williams for output and underlying numbers, so if the North Londoners can only get one, they should go for the Englishman.
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