While this season might have felt like one big disappointment for Arsenal fans, their team is still brilliant.
In spite of injuries, suspensions and a lack of cutting edge at points, Mikel Arteta's side still managed to finish second in the Premier League and make it to the semi-finals of the Champions League and League Cup.
However, that lack of cutting-edge options up top and out wide was likely what ultimately prevented the North Londoners from getting over the line in any of their competitions this season and also explains the abundance of links to superstar attackers that have started popping up in recent weeks.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta looks dejected after the match
One of the links in question is particularly interesting, as it concerns an incredibly exciting English talent who has won comparisons to someone else touted for a move to the club: Rodrygo.
Arsenal's winger search
Before getting to the player in question, it's worth looking at some of the other wide talents linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, like the aforementioned Rodryo and Kaoru Mitoma.
The latter is reportedly available for around £80m, and while that is a lot of money, he might be worth it, as not only did he score 11 goals and provide four assists in 41 games this season, but he's also Premier League-proven.
Yet, the Real Madrid star would undoubtedly be the more exhilarating addition to the team, as on top of producing a better tally of 14 goals and ten assists in 51 games this season, he's simply the bigger name and would be joining the club from arguably the biggest team in the world.
rodrygo-real-madrid
However, at a reported £85m, not to mention the interest from other parties and the chance he might not even want to leave Los Blancos with Xabi Alonso at the helm, Artete a Co may have to look elsewhere, at a player who's won comparisons to the Brazilian, such as Jamie Gittens.
Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several sides interested in the Borussia Dortmund star, but they are in a race against time if they are serious about signing him.
This is because the report has revealed that Premier League rivals Chelsea have already submitted a £55m offer for the young Englishman and are already in talks over a potential deal.
It's unclear whether that fee will be enough, but if it's close, then the Gunners should be doing all they can to get ahead of the Blues, as the 20-year-old's ability and potential are undeniable, and the comparisons to Rodrygo a big bonus.
How Gittens compares to Rodrygo
Before getting into some of the other reasons why Arsenal should be signing Gittens this summer, it's important to examine this comparison to Rodygo and where it has come from.
Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Bynoe-Gittens in action with Lille's Bafode Diakite
In this instance, it stems from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions in Europe's top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, before creating a list of the ten most comparable players.
By doing this, it has been concluded that the Real Madrid star is the fifth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Dortmund ace across the last 365 days.
Gittens & Rodrygo
Statistic per 90
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
Non-Penalty G+As
Shots
Passes into the Penalty Area
Goal-Creating Actions
Successful Take-Ons %
Ball Recoveries
Aerial Duels Won
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season
The best way to see how this is worked out is by taking a look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including but not limited to expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, shots, goal-creating actions, passes into the penalty area, aerial duels won and more, all per 90.
However, this flattering and encouraging comparison to one of Europe's most exciting wingers isn't the only reason the Gunners should be after the 20-year-old.
Another is that, despite still being so young, the dynamic outlet, whom Sky Sports' Dougie Critchley dubbed "England's best LW," managed to score 12 goals and provide five assists in 48 appearances, totalling 2790 minutes this season.
That comes out to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.82 games, or mre crucially, every 164.11 minutes of action.
Dortmund-Jamie-Gittens
Finally, per FBref, the Reading-born gem sits in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues for successful take-ons per 90, at 3.57, which is just the sort of aggressively direct winger the Gunners could use to help them terrify teams next year.
Ultimately, while it might be hard to get ahead of Chelsea, Arsenal have to try, as Gittens looks destined to reach the very top of the game, at least based on the calibre of player he's currently being compared to.
Arsenal-Wirtz Related
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The incredibly gifted attacking midfielder would add some much-needed dynamism to Arsenal.