Arsenal are less than a month away from greatness. It has been a long and arduous season, but Mikel Arteta’s side have shown more resilience than in recent years and now have Premier League and Champions League titles in their sights.
If they win all their remaining games, the Gunners will complete the double and end a 20-year quest for the league title and first European gold medal.
Victor Gokeres has come into his own since Christmas and Bukayo Saka is showing signs of the world-class quality we have come to know and love, but Arsenal need a spectacular threat in Alexis Sanchez, who has not only Saka’s dynamism and skill, but also the lethal finishing ability of a top striker.
Technical director Andrea Berta may have his sights on the perfect target.
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Arsenal have gone from being a laughing stock to a superpower at the top of the pyramid, and their performances this season have opened up a new world of financial possibilities that they can apply to reach new heights in the transfer market.
Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli have played their roles on the left this season, but Arsenal could use a more capable wideman.
However, finding someone comparable to Alexis is no easy feat.
However, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Arsenal could be eyeing the perfect signing for Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola, who is also coveted by Barcelona and Liverpool.
The Gunners are said to be ‘particularly keen’ on a move, with talks said to be at an ‘early stage’ although no ‘concrete offer’ has been made yet.
The 23-year-old Barcola is one of Europe’s most exciting attackers, but his failure to secure a starting place at PSG is largely due to the powerful Hviča Kvaratschelia ahead of him, arguably “the best winger in the world at the moment”, as pundit Steven Gerrard put it.
Valued at £62m, with contract talks pending in the French capital, he represents a real opportunity for elite Arsenal. If they don’t act quickly, rivals like Liverpool are sure to pounce.
Why Barcola could be Arsenal’s new Alexis
Arsenal and Barcola will get to know each other a little better on Saturday, May 30th at the Puskas Arena in Budapest. Arteta wants to send a French player, but
Hailed as an “extraordinary” talent by manager Luis Enrique, Barcola would be a winger worth investing in and will probably perform at a higher level than Martinelli or Trossard at the moment.
Bradley Barcola, 2025/26 | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (* per 90) | Ligue 1 | UCL |
Match (start) | 26(18) | 15(12) |
Goal + Assist | 10+1 | 2+4 |
Number of shots (on target)* | 2.5(1.0) | 1.6 (0.7) |
Exact path* | 21.3 (84%) | 20.3 (87%) |
A big opportunity has arisen | 10 | 3 |
Key pass* | 1.3 | 1.7 |
Loss of ownership* | 9.0 | 8.0 |
Successful. dribble* | 1.3 | 1.1 |
Ball recovery rate* | 2.1 | 1.9 |
Tackle + Interception* | 1.6 | 1.7 |
Win a duel* | 3.0 | 2.6 |
That said, he could very well be the Gunners’ best player since Alexis, Saka’s versatile partner on the right. Although Barcola has a more direct touch than Saka and is less effective in influencing the deep phases of play, he offers an outlet into dangerous areas like no other and is quite unique in his ability to carry the ball and find the back of the net.
Barcola hasn’t quite developed the precision with the ball that mirrors Arsenal’s former Chilean superstar’s prolific form, but he is young and developing and analyst Ben Mattinson believes he already has “huge potential as a killer outlet”.
It remains to be seen whether the Gunners will act on their apparent interest, but PSG’s talent is real. Last year, he scored 21 goals and provided 21 assists in all competitions (including the Club World Cup in the summer). He hasn’t been very prolific this season, but his new home in London could help his rapid development, with him being given a first-choice role on the left.
Although Alexis hasn’t shown his skills at the Emirates for some time, memories of his brilliance all those years ago, when he was a total charmer under manager Arsene Wenger, are still alive and well.
Barcola is no carbon copy of the 37-year-old, but he could match his achievements at the Emirates during his years under Arteta.
Barcola is not a finished product, but this actually highlights his role in coach Luis Enrique’s super team, where he has had an incredible impact over the past few years without starting every game.
Liverpool started sniffing around last summer, with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano admitting the Reds consider the Les Bleus star to be a “world-class player”.
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Arsenal have now turned their focus to signing a midfield star who could partner Declan Rice next season.
