The right word to describe the last couple of weeks for Arsenal would be hectic.
In a fairly unusual fashion, the Gunners have been extraordinarily busy in the transfer window.
Midfield monster Martin Zubimendi was finally announced following his £60m move from Real Sociedad, while Kepa Arrizabalaga and Christian Norgaard have also made their way to the Emirates to bolster the squad.
However, not every rumour has gone down well, with Noni Madueke’s potential move causing backlash online.
Yet, in more good news, the club has once again been linked with a Premier League star who would represent a far better signing, someone other than Eberechi Eze.
Arsenal in the hunt for more Premier League talent
While there were links to Madueke last month, they have intensified this week.
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In fact, Arsenal have reportedly agreed a fee of £50m with Chelsea for the transfer of Madueke, with the winger “set to complete a move” in the words of Fabrizio Romano.
While the Englishman is a talented player, it’s easy to understand why fans would be resistant to welcoming in yet another Chelsea star.
It’s not all doom and gloom, though, as on top of reports claiming the Gunners have already made a bid for Eze, it now looks like another Premier League star wants to join Mikel Arteta’s project.
At least that is according to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, who has revealed that Ollie Watkins is keen on a move to the Emirates.
Bailey has revealed that the Aston Villa star is still on the North Londoners’ shortlist as a potential backup should they fail to sign Viktor Gyokeres.
However, while the Premier League runners-up like the player, they would be unwilling to pay more than £50m for him.
It might not be a transfer Arsenal are desperate to complete, but perhaps they should allocate the funds going towards Madueke to Watkins, as, like Eze, he’d be a way better signing than the Chelsea ace.
Why Watkins would be a way better signing than Madueke
Okay, let’s start with the most straightforward and hard-to-deny reason that Watkins would be the far better signing than Madueke: his output.
Since the start of the 23/24 season, the free-scoring “nightmare,” as dubbed by Conor Coady, has found the back of the net a staggering 44 times and provided 29 assists in 107 appearances in all competitions, totalling 7901 minutes.
That means the Torquay-born monster has averaged a goal involvement every 1.46 games, or one every 108.23 minutes, which really has to be considered world-class.
Appearances
34
53
Minutes
1593′
4323′
Goals
8
27
Assists
4
15
Goal Involvements per Match
0.35
0.79
Minutes per Goal Involvement
132.75′
102.92′
Appearances
46
54
Minutes
2647′
3578′
Goals
11
17
Assists
5
14
Goal Involvements per Match
0.34
0.57
Minutes per Goal Involvement
165.43′
115.41′
In stark contrast, the former PSV Eindhoven gem has scored 19 goals and provided nine assists in 80 appearances, totalling 4240 minutes.
In other words, the 23-year-old has maintained a far less impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.85 games, or every 151.71 minutes across the last two years.
The second reason the “phenomenal” goalscorer, as dubbed by Statman Dave, would be the better signing is that he’d probably get more game time anyway.
After all, the 29-year-old can play up top or off the left, whereas the Pensioners’ dynamo is primarily a right-winger, and that is already an area of the team locked down by Bukayo Saka, and even Ethan Nwaneri to an extent.
Ultimately, Madueke is not a bad player, but if Arsenal plan to spend £50m on him this summer, it makes far more sense to use that money on Watkins, as he is simply the far better attacker.
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