As Arsenal dive into what Mikel Arteta has called a ‘big summer’ in the transfer market, we look at some of their options as they look to strengthen out wide.
Arsenal already have one of the best left wingers in the Premier League, but having finished second for three successive seasons and fallen short in the Champions League, too, they are looking for marginal gains this off-season. And if the papers are to be believed, that might mean it’s time for an upgrade on Gabriel Martinelli.
It’s not their main priority, with a centre-forward and central midfielder top of the shopping list, but Arsenal need to make up ground at the top of the table, and that means strengthening anywhere that an improvement can be made. After a sensational 2022-23, Martinelli has had a couple of less impactful seasons, and there’s a good case to be made that left wing is an area of the pitch where Arsenal could do with a little more quality. That’s an issue we’ve discussed in more depth here:
Read More
Manager Mikel Arteta has spoken openly about this being an important summer for the club in the transfer market. “It’s going to be a big one and we are very excited about it,” he said in the closing stages of last season. It’s not clear precisely what that means but it doesn’t seem like he plans to forego signing a new winger permanently, after the loan deal for Raheem Sterling didn’t work out last year.
So, who could they sign if they do dip into the transfer market for a new wide player? Here, we go through some of the top-level players they have been most heavily linked with, as well as suggesting a few potential options to challenge Martinelli and provide a back-up option for Bukayo Saka on the right, including some who could prove a little cheaper. After all, there is still a decent chance that Arsenal will keep hold of both of their options on the left in Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, and they could do with being able to give Saka a rest, as they found out the hard way last season.
Rodrygo
Rodrygo has to be one of the most underrated two-time Champions League and three-time La Liga winners around. In part, that is because he plays alongside so many headline-grabbers and is happy to submit to them, and so he isn’t appreciated as much as he should be.
“His favourite position is the left,” teammate Jude Bellingham recently said. “And it’s important to note that he does a lot for the team defensively on the right side, which isn’t his favourite, but he never complains.”
The Brazilian has to play on the right for Madrid and with Vinícius Júnior in the squad, there’s no sign of that changing. Forever in the shadow of his compatriot, it would be understandable if he wanted to move to another club where he could be the main man.
He provides a consistent threat at the sharp end of the pitch, averaging 0.64 goals or assists per 90 over his 268 games in Real Madrid colours. And he is also a dribbling menace, ranking third in La Liga last season for the number of times he created a chance following a ball carry per 90 (1.0), behind two pretty good players in Vinícius (1.2) and Lamine Yamal (1.1) of players to play at least 1,500 minutes.
Rodrygo chance-creaing carries La Lia 2024-25
His goal threat may even increase if he is given the chance to play regularly on the left, while he has consistently shown for Madrid just how good he is on the right, too. His price may prove a stumbling block, but what a signing he would be.
Rafael Leão
After six years at Milan, it is arguably time for Rafael Leão to test himself in another of Europe’s top leagues. At least, it is for those avid watchers of the Premier League who want to see him on a more regular basis.
He is first and foremost a sensational dribbler, ranking top for dribbles attempted per 90 in Serie A last season (4.6) of players with 2,000+ minutes played and second for successful ones (2.3). He was also third for carries ending with a shot or chance created, averaging 2.0 per 90 minutes played.
In the Champions League, meanwhile, he ranked second overall for successful dribbles (39) despite Milan not even making the round of 16.
Rafael Leao successful dribbles in the Champions League 2024-25
He didn’t have as prolific a season in terms of end product last campaign, with his eight Serie A goals his lowest since 2020-21 and his eight assists his joint lowest in the same time, but those are still decent numbers considering he played only 68.2% of the season in terms of minutes.
He has plenty of experience at the top level and at 26 years of age could be about to hit his peak years. One downside for Arsenal is that he only really plays on the left, so he doesn’t provide the versatility they arguably need.
Bradley Barcola
One of the most exciting attackers in world football, Bradley Barcola has just played a significant part in Paris Saint-Germain ending their long wait for European glory, and yet he may be considering his future this summer. That’s because PSG signed Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in January and Désiré Doué forced his way into the starting XI, meaning Barcola started three of their five games on the bench in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final as they went on to win the Champions League.
He would likely cost more than any other player on this list, but he would provide ready-made Champions League quality as well as a huge amount of potential given he is still only 22 years old.
He prefers the ball into feet more than Martinelli, who carries much of his threat with runs in behind, and moves infield more than the Brazilian, too. But having just completed a second full season with a dominant PSG side, he is used to finding ways to break down a low block which would prove very useful indeed. He was one of only two players in Ligue 1 last season to hit double figures for both goals (14) and assists (10).
bradley Barcola goal involvements Ligue 1 2024-25
He also carries a counter-attacking threat, ranking second in Ligue 1 for goals from fast breaks (four) and third for shots (15).
Barcola has bags of pace, unbelievable talent on the ball, can play on either side of attack and is already clearly capable of playing at the top level. He may not have managed a single goal or assist in 299 minutes across six appearances against Premier League opposition in Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal in the Champions League knockout stages last season, but that’s no reason to doubt the likelihood of him succeeding should Arsenal shell out for him this summer.
Nico Williams
It seems as though Nico Williams is off to Barcelona this summer, but he’s so good he’s still worth a mention. His headline numbers – five goals and five assists in La Liga last term – aren’t particularly eye-catching, but in Athletic Bilbao, he is playing for a team who enjoy far less of the ball and create far fewer chances than many of the other players in this list.
It’s therefore arguably more telling to look at his starring role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph last summer, when he slotted seamlessly into a first XI packed with stars from Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City and PSG, proving in the process that he isn’t just a player who thrives on transitions (though he is very dangerous when the opposition are out of shape).
At the Euros, he ranked top for expected assists (2.1) and among the top five attackers for progressive carries of at least 10 metres (28), shot-ending carries (five) and ball carries followed by a dribble past an opponent (16). Oh, and he was given the Player of the Match award in the final, too. He is ready for a step up.
Anthony Gordon
Gordon is arguably the most similar player to Martinelli in this list in that he is a direct, energetic, hard runner whose biggest threat is his searing pace. Clocked at a top speed of 35.8 km/h, the Newcastle man was the 12th-fastest player in the Premier League last season. Martinelli was just behind, in 15th, at a top speed of 35.6 km/h.
He constantly gives his opponent something to think about, ranking 12th for off-the-ball runs made at sprinting pace, with 349, also just ahead of Martinelli (331). He is also fourth in the league for out-to-in off-the-ball runs in attack, with 13; one of the players he is behind is Martinelli (14).
anthony gordon runs in behind
There are plenty of similarities, but Gordon is slightly more comfortable on the right, having played there a little more over the years than Martinelli, and looked more dangerous there, too, so he could provide some cover for Saka.
Antoine Semenyo
One of the most two-footed players in the Premier League, Semenyo is on the rise after a sensational 2024-25 during which he played a key role in Bournemouth’s charge towards European qualification.
He scored six of his 11 goals with his right foot and the other five with his left, while 46% of his non-headed shots were with his right (54 of 117), leaving 54% with his left (63 of 117). Of players to attempt at least 30 shots, only teammate Dango Ouattara (51% left, 49% right) was nearer to a perfect half-half split than Semenyo.
antoine semenyo shot map premier league 2024-25
He is both a runner and a dribbler, ranking in the top 10 in the Premier League last season for off-the-ball runs into the final third (382) and third for successful dribbles (69). Meanwhile, when out of possession, he is also extremely effective, having won possession in the final third more times (37) than any other player in the whole top flight.
He is clearly progressing brilliantly, but talk of a £70 million price tag is reportedly putting teams off him given he has only really had one standout season at the top level.
Perhaps some potentially cheaper options might appeal…
Cut-Price Options
Under Arteta, Arsenal have found value in their willingness to target players who are outside the first team at the other big clubs in England. That approach has led to good deals being struck for Jorginho, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus. At £65m, Kai Havertz has represented slightly less in the way of value, but he has still been a very worthwhile signing.
So, could Arsenal do something similar this summer when it comes to finding a winger who can challenge Martinelli and play back-up to Saka?
Noni Madueke
Arsenal have been linked with Chelsea winger Noni Madueke, who can play on either flank and would apparently be available should an adequate bid come in for him. It’s curious given Chelsea have so many wingers and Madueke was arguably the best-performing of the lot last season, but the fact he played well also means they could ask for a decent amount for him, which probably appeals.
With seven Premier League goals, he was Chelsea’s third-highest scorer behind Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson, while his 3.5 shots per 90 was the fifth most in the whole division (1,500+ mins played), after Matheus Cunha, Palmer, Erling Haaland and Eberechi Eze. He constantly gets into dangerous positions, and his 0.42 non-penalty xG per 90 was the third-highest among non-strikers, behind Luis Díaz and Brennan Johnson.
That is largely because of his clever movement, as only Alex Iwobi (19) made more out-to-in off-the-ball runs to receive a pass in the Premier League last season than Madueke (14). Among non-centre-forwards, only six players made more off-the-ball runs ending in the penalty area than him (175), and he played significantly fewer minutes (2,049) than any of the players above him in that list.
noni madueke off-ball runs
Primarily a right-sided forward, Madueke can also play on the left as he is able to use either foot to shoot, having attempted 65.8% of his non-headed shots with his right foot and 34.2% with his left. His versatility and ability to go either way will make him even more attractive an option to Arsenal.
Alejandro Garnacho
Manchester United have a whole host of wingers who should be on the move this summer, and there are a couple who Arsenal could do worse than at the very least looking at.
After falling out with manager Ruben Amorim, Alejandro Garnacho has been told he can leave and he will make a fantastic signing if his next manager can harness his vast talent.
Clearly, he acts his age a little too much, but he’s still only 20, and not all 20-year-olds can be model professionals, and that’s something that could easily be changed over the coming years. There’s no doubt there’s bags of ability there, too, and that will make him a worthwhile signing to someone.
He is one of the fastest players in the Premier League, having hit a top speed of 35.6 km/h (which also happens to be the exact same top speed Martinelli hit), and he ranked seventh for shots from fast breaks per 90 in the Premier League last season, with 0.4 (1,500+ minutes played).
He is a constant threat, with his 3.4 shots per 90 last season putting him in the top 10 in the league, although six goals from 84 shots in 2,196 minutes isn’t a particularly good return on those efforts.
alejandro garnacho shot map premier league 2024-25
There’s not really any case to be made that he would be an immediate upgrade on Martinelli, but he has plenty of potential, can play on either flank and is Premier League ready. He has mainly been linked with Chelsea but Arsenal could do with him more.
Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford’s time at United is surely up, and after a successful loan spell at Aston Villa in the second half of last season, he showed he has plenty to offer at the top level.
Reports suggest Rashford is holding out for a move to Barcelona which may not materialise because they want Nico Williams, and the Englishman isn’t up for going back to Villa Park. If all of that is true, it sounds like Rashford wants to play for a bigger club than Villa. Perhaps Arsenal could fit the bill.
He put in a handful of match-winning performances on the big stage in his short time at Villa, including when he came off the bench to turn a 1-0 deficit against Chelsea into a 2-1 win with two assists, and his man-of-the-match display in the 3-2 comeback win over eventual European champions PSG that was very nearly enough to knock them out.
His rate of 0.86 goals or assists per 90 in all competitions for Villa was the fourth best by any player to play at least 600 minutes for a Premier League club in 2024-25.
Marcus Rashford goal involvements 2024-25
Rashford is 27 years old, so his next club could get him for a few of his best years, and he has plenty of experience at the top of the game. His Villa teammates have talked about the impact his presence had on the squad going into big Champions League games, so in that sense he adds something less tangible as well.
The other benefit of signing Rashford is that he can play up front as well as on either flank, which would also be very useful for Arsenal. It might not be the most inspiring signing, but it might just make sense.
Opta Stats Hub Premier League
*Subscribe to our football newsletter to receive exclusive weekly content. You should also follow our social accounts over on X*, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.**