After pursuing Nico Williams for well over a year, it appears Arsenal are now likely to miss out on Mikel Arteta’s dream transfer target.
The Gunners are eager to add a winger to their squad this summer, as they look to upgrade the likes of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli on the left-hand side of their attack.
Williams has been at the top of Arsenal’s list since last summer, with Arteta said to be a huge admirer of the Athletic Club man.
However, reports emerged last week suggesting that Williams prefers a move to Barcelona, and that the Catalan giants are eager to make the prospective deal happen.
The explosive wide man is eager to link up with his Spain teammate and friend Lamine Yamal at the Nou Camp, and thus, Arsenal have little chance of convincing him to instead make the switch to N5.
With that said, here are six alternative options that Andrea Berta and Arteta should be exploring.
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Rodrygo
Perhaps the most exciting winger who is expected to be on the market is Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, who could be surplus to requirements at the Bernabeu under new manager Xabi Alonso.
Rodrygo has been heavily linked with Arsenal and Arteta is said to be enamoured with the idea of bringing the Brazilian to the Emirates.
Quick, effective in tight spaces and capable of finding the back of the net with emphatic finishes, the 24-year-old would elevate the quality of the Gunners’ attack substantially.
The player will gauge how prominent a role he can expect to play under Alonso during the Club World Cup, and if he’s peripheral Arsenal have a great chance of prying him away from the Spanish capital.
Rafael Leao
Like Rodrygo, Rafael Leao boasts a more impressive CV than Williams and is arguably capable of producing a lot more than the Spaniard.
The AC Milan talisman is also on the market, with the Serie A giants willing to cash in for a modest fee, and it’s been well documented that he’s on Arsenal’s radar.
While there are concerns about his lack of defensive work, the Portuguese wide forward has the explosiveness to break open the types of low blocks the Gunners face in the Premier League.
Arsenal could even arrange a swap deal with Milan for Leao, weaponising the Italian club’s interest in Oleksandr Zinchenko to secure a more favourable deal.
Ademola Lookman
Ademola Lookman has exploded since leaving the Premier League for Atalanta in 2022.
Netting in excess of 15 goals across all competitions in three consecutive seasons for the Bergamo side, the Nigerian is ready to return to the English top flight to prove himself in the country where he developed into a well-rounded footballer.
Far from a guaranteed success, given he’s not quite produced in the Premier League previously, Lookman would be a risky addition for Arsenal.
However, while not being as accomplished a dribbler as Williams, Lookman has a much better eye for goal, displaying an ability to finish a range of different chances throughout his time in Serie A.
Arsenal are reportedly one of nine clubs looking to sign Lookman this summer.
Antoine Semenyo
While potentially being the player with the lowest ceiling on this list, Antoine Semenyo almost certainly has the highest floor.
The Ghanaian just enjoyed an impressive season in the Premier League, scoring 13 goals and registering six assists across all competitions, making him a very low-risk option.
Operating in a similar system to Arsenal at Bournemouth, Semenyo would be able to slot into Arteta’s team comfortably, either on the right or left wing.
Tottenham reportedly want to sign Semenyo, but the Gunners would likely be able to convince him to move to N5 over N17.
Jamie Gittens
Perhaps alongside Lookman, Jamie Gittens might be the only one of these suggested players who is currently not as good as Williams.
However, with the Euro 2024 winner off the table, the Borussia Dortmund man might be the most like-for-like option, given his age profile and set of attributes.
Like Williams, Gittens is a high-volume dribbler who is producing encouraging output for a player of his age, but has plenty of room to grow in this aspect.
He’d be something of a punt signing for Arsenal, but the raw skill set is exciting enough to make it a worthwhile investment.
That said, Chelsea are said to be leading the race to sign Gittens.
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Bradley Barcola
Arsenal have been loosely linked with Bradley Barcola, who would represent a statement signing for the Gunners.
A similar calibre of player to Rodrygo, the Frenchman is technically excellent, while possessing the physical attributes that make him well-suited to the Premier League.
Paris Saint-Germain may have an excess of top-quality wingers at their disposal, with the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue all ahead of Barcola in the pecking order.
This could mean that the 22-year-old is on the market, and Arsenal ought to pounce if so.
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