Arsenal in talks to sign £70m ‘superstar’

Mikel Arteta has built a superstar-filled squad at Arsenal over the past six years.

There is quality everywhere you look, from William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães at the back, to Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Ebelesi Eze in midfield.

But when it comes to the Gunners’ most important player, it’s hard to ignore Bukayo Saka.

In addition to being an exceptional player, the Englishman has become the face of the club, so fans should be excited by reports linking them with an international star who has been compared not only to Saka but also to Michael Oliseh.

Arsenal’s target is Saka and Olise hybrid

With less than a month left until the transfer window, Arsenal are understandably starting to be linked with a number of talented players.

Real Madrid’s £70m Eduardo Camavinga, for example, has been linked with a move to the Emirates, as has Nottingham Forest’s monster centre-back Murillo.

However, as talented as these two players are, unlike Rodrygo, neither can be compared to Saka or Oliseh.

Yes, Arsenal have once again attracted the attention of the Madrid star, according to a recent report from TEAMtalk.

In fact, reports suggest that the Brazilian is now keen to leave the Spanish giants in January, with his camp resuming talks with several teams, including the Gunners.

However, in addition to convincing the player about the project, the North Londoner will need to offer an attractive price for Madrid. According to reports, Madrid value the player at between £70m and £79m.

It is therefore likely to be a complex and expensive move to get over the line, but given Rodrygo’s immense ability, it is one worth pursuing for Arsenal, especially as he has been compared to both Saka and Olise.

Comparison of Rodrigo and Saka & Orise

So before we get into his achievements and other reasons why Arsenal should consider signing Rodrygo, it’s worth considering these comparisons to Saka and Oliseh and where they come from.

Well, in this case, both coming from FBref, the Bayern Munich star is ranked as the sixth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Brazilian in Europe’s top five leagues over the past 365 days.

Meanwhile, the Englishman was ranked third as the attacking midfielder or winger most similar to the Real Madrid star in last season’s Champions League.

By looking at the fundamental numbers of the winger’s rankings, or in Saka’s case his closest rankings, we can better understand how these conclusions were reached.

For the Frenchman, these metrics include passes into the final third, successful take-on rate, carries, ball recoveries, etc., all per 90 points.

The metrics that formed the basis of comparisons to last season’s Gunners’ mercurial No. 7 included shots, assists, clearances, successful take-ons and shot-creating actions, all of which were rated out of 90.

In other words, the former Santos treasure was instrumental in Madrid’s attack in last year’s Champions League, but he also contributed defensively here and there.

That said, in addition to the comparisons, another reason why North Londoners are so keen on this signing is the fact that the 24-year-old winger, at his best, can be a reliable source of goals and assists.

For example, since moving to Spain, he has played in 286 matches and played a total of 16,599 minutes, accumulating an impressive record of 68 goals and 53 assists.

This works out to a goal involved on average every 2.36 games, or every 137.18 minutes, which is all the more impressive given that Real are arguably the most pressing club in world football, with extremely high standards and expectations.

What’s more, the Osasco-born monster has racked up a sensational 25 goals and 16 assists in 67 Champions League games, which, when taken together with his two titles in the competition, more than justifies Luka Modric’s claim to be a ‘world-class superstar’.

After all, it won’t be easy, but Arsenal should do everything in their power to sign Rodrigo in January. Rodrygo could be a completely game-changing addition to Arteta’s side.