Arsenal could sign the “unstoppable” promotion of Cunha
Boy Ethan Nwaneri he has arguably benefited most from the unfortunate injury to star Bukaya Saka at the start of each of the last two Premier League matches in his absence.
The 17-year-old showed he is capable of making the jump from academy football to the Gunners’ first team, scoring the opener in the draw against Brighton on Saturday.
His strike was his second in the league this seasonadding to his tally following his first win against Nottingham Forest in a 3-0 win against their top four rivals at the Emirates in November.
There is a high expectation that the current group of strikers will come to an end after Saka’s latest setback, something that could see Nwaneri given even more responsibility in the months to come.
However, the January transfer window is now open, presenting the boss Mikel Arteta with the possibility of additional strengthening of the already impressive attacking department of the club.
Arsenal’s attempts to sign Matheus Cunha in January
Brazilian striker Matheus Cunha has impressed relegation-threatened Wolverhampton Wanderers in recent months, arguably representing their shining light in a dark period.
The 25-year-old has scored ten times and recorded four assists in his 19 league appearances to date, leading to the Gunners looking to sign the former Atlético Madrid talent.
Last week it was announced that Arteta’s men forged a deal move the striker from Molineux to bolster their slim title ambitions towards the end of 2024/25.
However, any deal for his services now appears to be in real jeopardy, with journalist John Percy confirming that it is now in negotiations to extend the current contract in the West Midlands – ending any chance of the Gunners securing a move for the striker this January.
As a result, it appears that the hierarchy will have to look elsewhere for potential options if they are to get the firepower that has been desired over the past few months.
Interest could now be reignited for one player who would prove to be a better addition than Cunha, especially if we delve into their numbers from the current campaign.
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Arsenal’s possible alternative to Matheus Cunha
Over the last week, Arsenal have been attributed to the signing interest Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez after the Mexican’s stellar start to the season.
The 23-year-old has scored ten times in 14 appearances in all competitions, including twice in three Champions League appearances – showing he is capable of performing at the very top level.
He looked certain to move to Forest back in the summer after the Reds made multiple offers for his servicesbut he has opted to stay in Holland, opening the door to a potential move to the Emirates in the weeks ahead.
It’s not known how much they would require to lose their attacking star, but his quality is there for everyone, producing numerous stats well ahead of Cunha – making him a better addition to Arteta’s squad.
Gimenez, who was previously called “unstoppable”. talent hunter Jacek Kulighe may have scored fewer league goals, but he has better goal by record than 90 with a higher shot-on-target success rate – showing his clinical edge in front of goal.
How Gimenez compares to Cunho in the 2024/25 campaign |
||
---|---|---|
Statistics (at 90) |
Gimenez |
Cunha |
Games played |
9 |
19 |
Goals and assists |
7 |
14 |
Goals for 90 |
0.92 |
0.58 |
Goal kicks |
1.5 |
1.2 |
Accuracy of shooting at the target |
50% |
39% |
Airports won |
1.1 |
0.4 |
Success rate in the air |
41% |
33% |
Statistics via FBref |
He also won a a higher percentage of his air battlesmanaging more shots on goal on 90, which would offer Arteta that centre-forward he craved, increasing their chances of challenging runaway leaders Liverpool.
Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus have often shared responsibility at the top of the pitch, but they are not typical number nines, often preferring to drop deep to link play, leaving a hole for a focal point at the top end.
Gimenez would certainly provide just that, showing his excellent fox-in-a-box nature during his performances in the Eredivisie over the past few months.
Such a move would also allow Nwaneri to flourish further, allowing him to create opportunities for the forward who likes to operate between the posts, which would later increase his assist numbers and make him an even more valuable asset for the Gunners.
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