Even though they were ultimately unsuccessful in the end, it’s reasonable to argue that Arsenal improved overall last season.
In the Premier League, Mikel Arteta’s team finished just two points behind Manchester City, and in the Champions League, they performed admirably.
Nevertheless, a few players had a dismal year despite all the celebrities who saw their value soar at the Emirates.
One of those was Gabriel Martinelli, who found it difficult to build on his strong 2022–2023 campaign. As a result, it may cost him a spot in the squad this season, as recent rumors suggest that Edu Gaspar and company may be set to sign an extremely exciting winger who would be the ideal replacement for the Brazilian.
Arsenal transfer news
A recent report from Caught Offside claims that Arsenal is interested in signing Kingsley Coman of Bayern Munich this summer.
The report also states that Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are interested in the Frenchman in addition to the Gunners. And while he would be happy to relocate to England or Spain, the good news is that he is ‘particularly keen on a move to the Emirates Stadium.’
According to the report, the 28-year-old is valued by the German Behemoths between €30 million and €40 million, or between £26 million and £34 million. It’s interesting to note that they would consent to his going on loan for this season.
All things considered, this deal appears to be a no-brainer for Arsenal if they can sign Coman on loan. Even if they have to pay a fee, the reported prices aren’t too high, though Martinelli may not be happy about his possible arrival.
How Coman compares to Martinelli
First of all, it should be noted that although Coman has made a lot of starts in his career—118 to be exact—he has spent more time playing off the left—169 starts—so if he were to move to North London this summer, it is likely that he would do so with the goal of playing off the left.
Furthermore, Arteta made it very evident last season that he was content and open to making changes on the left, while it is obvious that Bukayo Saka will almost certainly start, though you can understand why considering his 34 goal involvements in 47 games.
Martinelli would therefore be one of the Bayern star’s primary rivals in this Arsenal team, but how do the two compare?
To be honest, neither player had a very strong season in terms of sheer output last season.
For instance, the number 11 for the Gunners scored 13 goals and provided assists in 44 appearances, which translates to an average of one goal involvement every 3.38 games. In contrast, the former star of Juventus scored eight goals in just 27 games, maintaining a slightly higher average of one goal involvement every 3.37 games.
The disparity is much more pronounced when we examine their underlying statistics from the previous season, and regrettably, it does not work in favor of the former Ituano gem.
The Paris-born dynamo, for instance, leads in almost every metric (pass and crosses into the penalty area, assists and non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive carries, passes and passes received, passing accuracy, key passes and shot and goal-creating actions, all per ninety). Former Bayen Sporting Director Matthias Sammer once referred to the player as “one of the biggest talents in European football.”
If a pass is progressive, it is one that is completed into the penalty area or gets at least 10 meters closer to the opponent’s goal from the starting point to the next touch.
In the end, the “formidable” Coman—dubbed by former coach Patrick Gonfalone—vastly outperforms Martinelli when it comes to the pair’s underlying numbers, suggesting that if he were to join Arsenal this summer, he’d be a far more valuable player to have out on the left. Martinelli is an undeniably talented winger who may find his form again this season.
Thus, even if they have to pay an upfront fee, Edu and Co. should seize the opportunity to sign him this summer.
