While their Premier League ambitions have ultimately come to nothing for a third season on the bounce, Arsenal have started to look far better in recent weeks.
They dispatched Fulham at home and Ipswich Town away in the league and utterly dominated Real Madrid home and away in the Champions League, with the likes of Mikel Merino, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka stepping up in a big way.
However, another player has really started to come good in recent weeks: Gabriel Martinelli.
He was simply sublime against Fulham, scored the winning goal at the Bernabeu and then bagged his 50th for the club at Portman Road at the weekend, but even then, it might not be enough, as recent reports have linked the Gunners’ with a Ballon d’Or contender who could be a dream upgrade on the Brazilian.
Arsenal's hunt for a new winger
Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other names linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, such as Rafael Leao.
The AC Milan superstar is enjoying another brilliant campaign at the San Siro this season and has already amassed a haul of 22 goal involvements in 45 appearances, but according to reports, it would cost the Gunners around £86m.
A slightly cheaper but nonetheless exciting option is Viktor Gyokeres.
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The Sporting CP star was on the Gunners’ radar last year, but it looks as if he really could be making his way to the Emirates this summer, and considering he’s scored 47 goals and provided 11 assists in just 46 appearances this term, he’d be more than worth the reported £60m price tag.
Another star from the continent who’d be more than worth his price is Raphinha.
According to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, Arsenal are one of several sides who have been hinted at by intermediaries that they could sign Barcelona star Raphinha this summer.
Alongside the North Londoners, Liverpool and Chelsea have also reportedly been told they could land the Brazilian superstar this year, although to do so, they’ll have to stump up the club’s asking price of around £80m.
It could be an incredibly costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Raphinha’s ability, it’s one well worth fighting for, even if it would be bad news for Martinelli.
How Raphinha compares to Martinelli
Now, while Raphinha can play on both wings and has even played in attacking midfield at times, he’d almost certainly play off the left were he to join Arsenal for two reasons: it’s his most played position, and nobody is going to displace Bukayo Saka.
With that said, Martinelli would likely be the former Leeds United star’s most significant competition for game time in North London, so who comes out on top when we compare them?
Well, when it comes to their raw output, which is what matters most for an attacker, it’s not even close, as the Barcelona ace comes out miles ahead.
For example, in 48 appearances this term, totalling 3924 minutes, he has racked up a frankly astonishing tally of 30 goals and 23 assists, which comes out to an average of 1.10 goal involvements every game or one every 74.03 minutes.
It’s the sort of output which more than justifies Thierry Henry’s shout for him to win the Ballon d’Or earlier in the season.
“Raphinha is ahead, for me, now. Yes, yes, he is ahead because of what he is doing in the Champions League. He’s on 11 goals in the Champions League.
In contrast, the Gunners’ number 11 has scored nine goals and provided six assists in 44 games, totalling 2978 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.93 games or one every 198.53 minutes, which is hardly even comparable.
Appearances
48
44
Minutes
3924′
2978′
Goals
30
9
Assists
23
6
Goal Involvements per Match
1.10
0.34
Minutes per Goal Involvement
74.03′
198.53′
Furthermore, on the international stage, the “amazing” Barcelona star, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored 11 goals and provided seven assists in 33 appearances for the Seleção, whereas the former Ituano gem has scored just two goals in 16 appearances.
Ultimately, while Martinelli has stepped up in recent weeks and is starting to look like the player from the 22/23 campaign, his output still pales in comparison to Raphinha’s, so if there is any chance of signing the latter, Arsenal must take it.
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