Arsenal target Nico Williams was on the losing side in the Nations League final.
A number of Arsenal’s transfer targets have been on international duty, giving fans the opportunity to study those linked to the club.
In the Nations League final, an array of players both associated and linked to the Gunners were in action, as Martin Zubimendi had Arsenal fans in awe after scoring for Spain.
The midfielder wasn’t the only one to generate attention in the final, with Arsenal supporters drawn to Rafael Leao of Portugal as well as 2024 signing Mikel Merino, who came on as a substitute.
Another player in the spotlight was Mikel Arteta’s dream target, Nico Williams, who, despite offering a wide threat for Spain, didn’t have the night he would’ve wanted.
Nico Williams struggled against Premier League opposition
There are reservations around Arsenal signing Williams due to his salary demands.
Added to that, some Arsenal fans aren’t entirely convinced about Williams based on what they saw from the winger against English opposition.
The Spaniard flattered to deceive against Manchester United in the Europa League, and in the Nations League final, it could be said that the forward had a similar evening against an array of Premier League defenders.
In the final against Portugal, Williams did taunt Joao Neves early on, but in the 20-year-old’s defence, he was played wildly out of position.
At half-time, Wolves star Nelson Semedo came into action and Williams became quieter, finding it a challenge to get the better of both the right-back and right-sided centre-back Ruben Dias.
| Nico Williams vs Portugal |
| 92 minutes played |
| 1 successful dribble |
| 0 crosses |
| 0 shots on target |
| 1 offside |
| 10x possession lost |
The statistics from the contest tell the story of the Arsenal target’s struggles against Premier League representatives, as he completed just one dribble in 92 minutes.
It would be unfair to judge Williams’ suitability for the Premier League on one game; however, with knowledge of the 22-year-old’s struggles against Man United, a theme is emerging.
Missing out on the Athletic Bilbao superstar might be a blessing in disguise for Arsenal, who can’t afford to dismantle the wage structure to accommodate a talent that might not be suited to the English game.
Arsenal are likely to miss out on Williams
Though Arteta loves Williams, it looks likely that the Spain international will remain in La Liga.
Despite significant interest in England, with his release clause sitting at just £50m, it’s understood that his mind is elsewhere.
Williams would prefer to stay in Spain, and with Barcelona interested and Bilbao ready to offer him an improved contract, he’s not short of suitors.
For Arteta’s project, a winger of his profile is needed, but even more importantly, a wide player ready to make an instant impact is essential.
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