Just one more game until Arsenal fans can forget all about what has been a seriously disappointing season.
For the third year on the bounce, Mikel Arteta’s side look set to finish as runners-up in the Premier League, and while injuries have certainly played their part, the players just haven’t hit the level required.
For example, Gabriel Martinelli, who many hoped was just having an off year last season, has once again underwhelmed for much of the campaign, and looks a shadow of the winger who took the league by storm in 22/23.
In fact, his lacklustre showings this year might be about to cost him his place in the starting lineup, as recent reports have linked the club with a sensational winger who could be the perfect upgrade.
Arsenal's winger search
Given the lack of impact Arsenal’s left-wingers have had this season, it’s been unsurprising to see them linked with a number of top-quality left-wingers in recent weeks, like Daizen Maeda and Rodrygo.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The former could be available for just £25m this summer, which may well be a bargain, as in 50 appearances for Celtic this season, he has managed to score a staggering 33 goals and provide 12 assists to boot.
Rodrygo, on the other hand, could cost up to £85m, but given his vast experience with a club the size of Real Madrid and the fact he’s racked up 23 goal involvements in 50 games this season, that may well be a fee worth paying.
However, Arteta and Co might want to go out and spend a little less on a winger who has experience in a top-five league and could still be an upgrade on Martinelli, someone like Jamie Gittens.
According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal hold a genuine interest in Borussia Dortmund’s young star.
In fact, the report has revealed that the Gunners are racing against Premier League rivals Newcastle United and Chelsea for the Englishman’s signature, which could cost them around €55m, or £46m.
It might sound like a lot for a 20-year-old, but given Gittens ability and immense potential, this is a transfer worth pursuing, especially as he could also be a serious upgrade on Martinelli.
How Gittens compares to Martinelli
So, while Gittens can play on both wings, which is already a big bonus to signing him, he’s a natural leftwinger, and with Bukayo Saka being who he is, the left is where he would primarily play at Arsenal.
Therefore, one of his primary competitors for game time at the club would be Martinelli, but who comes out on top when we compare them?
Well, from an output perspective, it’s the Dortmund ace who comes out on top, as in 50 appearances, totalling 2791 minutes, he has scored 12 goals and provided five assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.82 games, or every 164.17 minutes.
In contrast, the Brazilian ace has scored ten goals and provided six assists in 50 appearances, totalling 3493 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 3.12 games, or every 218.31 minutes.
What about when we take a look under the hood, then? At their underlying numbers?
Non-Penalty G+As
0.56
0.49
Progressive Passes
2.13
1.98
Progressive Carries
5.74
4.86
Shots
2.64
2.07
Shots on Target
1.22
0.89
Passing Accuracy
76.5%
71.2%
Key Passes
1.07
1.50
Shot-Creating Actions
3.70
2.71
Goal-Creating Actions
0.51
0.24
Tackles Won
0.96
0.61
Interceptions
0.51
0.20
Successful Take-Ons
3.91
1.30
Carries into the Final Third
2.84
1.30
Carries into the Penalty Area
3.20
2.51
Ball Recoveries
3.20
3.08
Well, it is once again a win for the 20-year-old, as in practically every relevant metric, “England’s best LW,” as Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley dubbed him, comes out on top.
Those metrics include things like non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, shots and shots on target, successful take-ons, shot and goal-creating actions, tackles won, interceptions, carries into the penalty area, passing accuracy and more, all per 90.
Ultimately, everything from Gittens’ raw output to his underlying numbers suggests he’s the far superior winger to Martinelli, and when you add in the fact he’s three years younger, signing him becomes a total no-brainer for Arsenal.
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