It would be fair to say that some of the shine has been taken off Arsenal's summer over the last seven days.
The atmosphere around the club was excellent going into the game against Tottenham Hotspur last Thursday, only for the team to fall to a dull 1-0 defeat.
Then, instead of wiping the slate clean with an entertaining win over Villarreal on Wednesday, Mikel Arteta's side fell to yet another defeat.
Fortunately, it's not all doom and gloom, as the club have made several brilliant signings so far, with the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi the clear standouts.
Moreover, Andrea Berta looks ready to make yet more additions, with Eberechi Eze's name refusing to go away, and reports suggesting he could pull off the signing of another international ace, someone who'd surely represent his best deal yet.
Berta targets a better signing than Eze
Despite already adding six players to the squad this summer, Arsenal are clearly on the hunt for more first-team additions, and Eze has been someone consistently touted for a move to the club this summer.
The Crystal Palace star has a £67.5m release clause in his current deal that expires on August 15th, and based on stories from the last week or so, it does seem like the Gunners will be making a move for him once that clause is gone.
However, in exciting news, the Englishman isn't the only attacker Berta and Co are supposedly after, as it now looks like they've got their eye on someone who'd undoubtedly be his best signing of the window.
Eze-Arsenal
At least that's according to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, who has reaffirmed the fact that Arsenal are very interested in Rodrygo.
Bailey has revealed that, alongside North London rivals Spurs, the Gunners are now just "waiting for a signal" from the Brazilian before they make their move.
Interestingly, stories from earlier this summer made it clear that if the winger were to leave, it'd likely require a fee of around £86m, but then more recent reports have stated that a season-long loan with an obligation to buy at the end could be his route out of Spain.
It remains to be seen how Arsenal could eventually sign Rodrygo, but if they have any chance of doing so, they should, as he'd instantly become the best deal under Berta's watch.
Why Rodrygo would be Berta's best deal
So, when it comes to the deals Berta has already completed this summer, the only two players who would be in with a shout of being his best are Gyokeres and Zubimendi, but we still think Rodrygo would land above both.
Arsenal BERTA
The reason he'd do so in the case of the Spaniard is the simple fact that the club do already have several genuinely great options for that role in the shape of Declan Rice, who was initially signed as a six, Christian Norgaard, who has impressed in pre-season, and Mikel Merino.
Moreover, it's simply the nature of the sport that those who operate in deeper areas of the pitch are viewed as less game-changing than someone who's up top, banging in goals or creating chances for his teammates.
Gyokeres 2024-25 season in numbers (timeless) (1)
However, in that case, why wouldn't the former Sporting CP star be the better deal, as he racked up 67 goal involvements in 52 games last season?
Well, in this instance, it comes down to the fact that, while still outstanding, those numbers were achieved primarily in the Portuguese league, which, according to Opta Analyst, is just the eighth toughest in the world, coming in behind the Championship and Belgian top-flight.
Liverpool's Darwin Nunez reacts
While there is every chance that the Swedish international is a lean, mean goalscoring machine for the Gunners as well, there is still an element of the unknown about how he'll adapt, especially when strikers like Darwin Núñez have struggled to do so in the past.
In contrast, we've got plenty of evidence that the Real Madrid star can more than handle himself in a top-five league.
Rodrygo's recent record
Season
Appearances
Minutes
Goals
Assists
Goal Involvements per Match
Minutes per Goal Involvement
All Stats via Transfermarkt
For example, across the last two seasons, the Brazilian "superstar," as dubbed by Luka Modrić, has found the back of the net on 31 occasions and provided 20 assists in 105 appearances, totalling 7159 minutes.
That means the former Santos gem has been averaging a goal involvement every 2.05 games, or every 140.37 minutes across the last two years, which is only made all the more impressive when you take into account the fact he had to play out of his preferred position on the left for most of those games.
rodrygo-real-madrid-chelsea-premier-league
Finally, like all top-tier players, the Osasco-born ace has an incredible record in the Champions League.
In his 64 appearances in the competition, totalling 3883 minutes, the 24-year-old has scored 25 goals and provided 14 assists, which comes out to a goal involvement every 1.64 games, or every 99.56 minutes.
Ultimately, when you take everything into account, from his record to the fact that there are plenty of other top sides looking to sign him, it's easy to see why Rodrygo would represent Berta's best deal since joining Arsenal.