Arsenal are expected to be active this summer transfer window after Mikel Arteta finished second for the third consecutive season.
One of the areas Arsenal are prioritising is the attack, with Arteta’s side falling short in attack last season.
However, fans have been left frustrated after the club missed out on top target Nico Williams, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that Williams has agreed personal terms with Barcelona.
This comes after TBR Football reported earlier this week that Barcelona are preparing a deal to sign Williams.
🚨🔵🔴 Nico Williams and Barça have agreed personal terms on 6 year deal!
Agreement sealed on player’s contract until June 2031 with the salary in the region of €7/8m net per season.
Barça are currently working on financial terms to get deal done with Athletic. pic.twitter.com/9iP8eAWEpc
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 19, 2025
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Arsenal missing out on Nico Williams might be good news
Some Arsenal fans have expressed their frustration at the club for missing out on a long-standing target. However, it may not necessarily be bad news for the Gunners.
Looking at some of the player’s statistics, perhaps there are better options Arteta could be targeting.
While Williams is a promising talent, his numbers raise concerns about consistency. Most notably, the 22-year-old went through a 15-game goal drought this past season.
He scored just five goals and assisted another five in 29 league games. His output in the Europa League was better, with the player scoring five and assisting two in 13 games.
His league goal tally has remained in single digits over the past three seasons. He scored six in 2022/23, five in 2023/24, and five again this past season.
Metric Stat Percnetile (AMs & Wingers)
Non-Penalty Expected Goals (npxG) 0.21 43rd percentile
Combined npxG + Expected Assists (xA) 0.38 38th percentile
Pass Attempts per Game 33 32nd percentile
Passing Accuracy 70.1% 16th percentile
Progressive Passes per Game 3.09 34th percentile
Nico Williams key stats and how they compare to others in his position (attacking midfielders and wingers) via Fbref
He averages just 0.21 non-penalty expected goals (43rd percentile) and 0.38 combined non-penalty xG and expected assists (38th percentile) among attacking midfielders and wingers. Passing is another weakness, with only 33 attempts per game (32nd percentile), 70.1% passing accuracy (16th percentile), and 3.09 progressive passes (34th percentile).
Other wingers links with Arsenal this summer transfer window
Arsenal have been linked with Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, who could be a great signing; however, it has been reported that new Madrid manager Xabi Alonso is not willing to let the Brazilian go.
Bryan Mbeumo is another player Arsenal could go for. The Gunners were linked with the Brentford star, and at one stage, Arsenal were progressing in talks to sign Mbeumo.
However, Manchester United have become front-runners to sign Mbeumo now.
Noni Madueke is the latest to be linked with Arsenal. The 23-year-old joined Chelsea in a £29m deal from PSV in January 2022.
This past season, he scored 11 goals and provided five assists in 42 appearances across all competitions.
While there may be statistically stronger options available in the market, it remains unclear who Arsenal will prioritise in the coming weeks.
Frustration is beginning to grow among the fanbase, especially as rivals like Liverpool and Manchester City continue to strengthen their squads with major signings.