While it failed to culminate in any silverware, this season wasn't all doom and gloom for Arsenal.
For example, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly broke into the first team, with the latter establishing himself as a regular starter and now a full-fledged England star.
Moreover, despite missing almost four months of action, Bukayo Saka once again proved he's a world-class attacker by racking up a haul of 12 goals and 14 assists in 37 games.
Saka's 24/25
Appearances (Starts)
Minutes
Goals
Assists
Goal Involvements per Match
Minutes per Goal Involvement
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Yet, it's impossible to overlook that, in the end, a lack of invention in the final third prevented the team from winning anything, so it's a good thing that reports have now linked Arsenal to someone compared to Saka and Rodrygo.
Arsenal transfer news
With Arsenal creating just the seventh-highest expected goals figure in the Premier League this season, per FBref, it's easy to understand why there has been such an emphasis on the club signing players capable of both scoring and creating more goals in recent weeks.
Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo has been one name linked with the club, as has Aston Villa and England star Morgan Rogers, although a player touted more heavily for a move to the Emirates than both this summer has been Rodrygo.
The Real Madrid star scored 14 goals and provided ten assists in 51 games for Los Blancos this term.
rodrygo-arsenal-real-madrid
However, with a price tag of at least £84m and murmurs that he does not want to leave the Spanish capital, the North Londoners may be forced to sign another attacking talent from the Santiago Bernabéu, a talent who's won comparisons to the Brazilian.
According to a recent report from Spain, Arteta has asked Arsenal to inquire about Brahim Diaz, who he believes could thrive at the Emirates.
Moreover, the story has revealed that the North Londoners are now willing to make an offer of €50m for the Moroccan international, about £42m, despite Xabi Alonso wanting to keep him in Spain.
It might not be a straightforward transfer to get over the line, but Diaz is undeniably talented, and as he's already won comparisons to Saka and Rodrygo, he could be just what Arsenal need.
How Diaz compares to Saka & Rodrygo
Now, there are a number of reasons why Arsenal should be looking to sign Diaz this summer, but before getting to them, it's important to address these comparisons to Saka and Rodrygo and where they come from, for that matter.
Brahim-Diaz-Madrid
Well, in both cases, the comparisons stem from FBref, which looked at players in similar positions in the Champions League this season and then created a list of the ten most comparable players for each.
In this instance, it concluded that the Brazilian international was the fifth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Morccan star, while the Englishman came in as the seventh most similar.
Diaz & Rodrygo
Statistics per 90
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
Goals per Shot
Passing Accuracy
Live Passes
Tackles Won
Successful Take-On %
Carries
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 UCL Campaign
The best way to see how these conclusions were reached is by looking at the underlying numbers in which the players ranked closely, which, for the case of his Real Madrid teammate, included things like non-penalty expected goals plus assists, goals per shot, passing accuracy, carries, tackles won and more, all per 90.
For the Gunners' own number seven, the metrics that overlapped with the former Manchester City gem included things like shots on target, goal-creating actions, key passes, passes into the penalty area, non-penalty expected goals and more, also per 90.
Diaz & Saka
Statistics per 90
Non-Penalty Expected Goals
Shots on Target
Key Passes
Passes into the Penalty Area
Goal-Creating Actions
Miscontrols
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 UCL Campaign
Usually, being so statistically similar to two of the most exciting wingers in the modern game would be reason enough to sign someone, but away from these comparisons, there are other reasons the North Londoners should be looking to recruit the Málaga-born maestro this summer, such as his versatility.
For example, while the 25-year-old does tend to play out on the right at the moment, his most played position across his entire career is attacking midfield, but even then, he's also capable of playing off the left and has spent time as a second striker and up top to boot.
Moreover, while he has mainly been kept to substitute appearances in Spain, he's got the ability to do something seriously special, with former professional turned pundit Owen Hargreaves describing a goal he scored in the Champions League last season as "Messi-esque."
However, Hargreaves doesn't limit the comparison to strictly that goal, pointing out that it's his "low centre of gravity" and "way he can dribble", which also makes the 5 foot 7 magician similar to the Argentine legend.
Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz, Raul Asencio and Rodrygo celebrate their second goal
Ultimately, Arsenal need to add more quality to their attacking and midfield options this summer, and while he might not be the biggest of names, Diaz is undeniably talented and could add that extra spark the team need.
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