Arsenal play their final game of pre-season against Athletic Bilbao this afternoon, and it’d be fair to say the mood around the team is mixed.
On the one hand, Andrea Berta and Co have made several impressive signings to improve Mikel Arteta’s squad, like Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi.
However, on the other hand, the team have lost their last two games and the attack, especially on the left, has not looked great.
Fortunately, the transfer window is open for a few more weeks, and, unsurprisingly, the Gunners continue to be linked with players who could help level up the attack, such as Rodrygo.
However, if reports are to be believed, Arsenal are now looking at an alternative to the Brazilian, someone who’d be an even better signing, and no, it’s not Eberechi Eze.
Arsenal target Rodrygo upgrade
Arsenal have been linked with Rodrygo for what feels like months now, with some of the first reports emerging as far back as April and May before then quieting down again last month.
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However, the Real Madrid star was once again touted for a move to the Emirates earlier this week, with some reports claiming that he might be available on a loan with an obligation to buy, while others repeated the £86m price tag from earlier this summer.
Regardless of the structure of the potential deal, there is no doubt that Rodrygo would be a massively exciting transfer, although it now looks like the Gunners are looking at another international, someone who’d be an even better signing.
At least that is according to a recent report from the Sun, which claims Arsenal have maintained their interest in Ademola Lookman.
The report has revealed that the Nigerian star is still on the North Londoners’ list of targets, and that, so far, Inter Milan have not been successful in their pursuit of the player.
In better, even better news, the report claims that an offer of £45m would be enough to tempt Atalanta into selling, which for a player of Lookman’s quality would be a brilliant deal.
Why Lookman would be a better signing than Rodrygo
It should go without saying that Rodrygo is a supremely gifted player and would be an excellent signing for Arsenal, but even so, there are a few reasons that mean Lookman would be an even better one this summer.
The first, and undoubtedly the most crucial, is the simple fact that, over the last three seasons, the Nigerian “superstar,” as dubbed by 90min’s Sean Walsh, has been the more effective attacker.
For example, since moving to the Serie A side in August 2022, he has scored a brilliant 52 goals and provided 25 assists in 118 appearances, totalling 7538 minutes.
That means the former Everton flop has averaged a goal involvement every 1.53 games or every 97.89 minutes on the continent, which is frankly outstanding.
In contrast, the Real star has scored 50 goals and provided 31 assists in 162 appearances, totalling 11012 minutes, across the same period, which comes out to a great, but still less impressive average of a goal involvement every other game, or every 135.95 minutes.
Appearances
33
57
Minutes
1858′
3853′
Goals
15
19
Assists
8
11
Goal Involvements per Match
0.69
0.52
Minutes per Goal Involvement
80.78′
128.43′
Appearances
45
51
Minutes
2809′
3707′
Goals
17
17
Assists
10
9
Goal Involvements per Match
0.60
0.50
Minutes per Goal Involvement
104.03′
142.57′
Appearances
40
54
Minutes
2871′
3452′
Goals
20
14
Assists
7
11
Goal Involvements per Match
0.67
0.46
Minutes per Goal Involvement
106.33
138.08′
The following reason is quite difficult to quantify, and may even be outright refuted by some fans.
Still, as the Atalanta star would be moving up to a Champions League side and the Los Blancos ace leaving arguably the biggest club in world football, there is always the possibility that the former will have far more drive to push the Gunners forward than the latter.
Finally, there is the overall cost of the two deals.
If the reports are accurate, then there is a chance the former Santos gem could cost up to £43m more than the former RB Leipzig star, and then when it comes to wages, the 24-year-old supposedly makes £349k-per-week including bonuses, while the 27-year-old makes just £38k-per-week.
Ultimately, Rodrygo would be an excellent signing, but from output, to the motivation and the potential cost of the deals, it seems clear to us that Lookman would be a better signing for Arsenal.
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