There is no escaping it: this season has been something of a disaster for Arsenal.
There is still a chance that Mikel Arteta’s side could do something miraculous in the Champions League, but following the news that Gabriel Magalhaes is the latest starter to need surgery on his hamstring, that feels incredibly unlikely.
Moreover, while the Premier League title race isn’t mathematically over, it is in reality, and while the absurd number of injuries the North Londoners have had to deal with have certainly played their part in that, it would also be fair to say the team have been lacklustre for large parts of the campaign.
One of those who has been far less effective than they were last season has been Leandro Trossard, which might explain why recent reports have linked the club with the perfect upgrade on the Belgian.
Arsenal transfer news
After what has been a pretty demoralising season for Arsenal, this summer looks like it’s going to be a massive one in terms of incomings – Arteta has said as much – with one of the most significant links in recent weeks being to Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres.
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The Swedish goal machine is supposedly available for around £58m, which could prove to be an incredible price considering he’s already scored 43 goals and provided 11 assists in 43 games this season.
Another name which continues to come up in connection with the Gunners is Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, who’s been having a tremendous season in West London and has already amassed a sensational tally of 16 goals and six assists in just 34 games this year.
However, in even more exciting news, the North Londoners seem to be focussing their energy on another international winger: Nico WIlliams.
According to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, the Athletic Bilbao star has become the Gunners’ number one winger target ahead of the summer, a stance that new Sporting Director Andrea Berta agrees with.
In fact, Bailey has revealed that Arsenal have been in ‘constant communication with Williams for 12-months now’, which led to a meeting between Berta and the player’s representatives earlier this week, a meeting which convinced the Italian that the winger would be keen on the project.
If Arsenal can convince the 22-year-old to join them, they’ll have to spend £48m to activate his release clause, and while that is a lot of money, it would be more than worth it, especially as he’d be an ideal Trossard upgrade.
How Williams compares to Trossard
So, if Williams does make his way to Arsenal this summer, one of his biggest competitors for game time next season – should he stay – will be Trossard, but how do the pair stack up to one another?
Well, when it comes down to their output, which matters most for an attacker, it is a comfortable and conclusive victory for the Spaniard.
For example, in 37 appearances last season, the “relentless” talent, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, scored eight goals and provided 18 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.42 games.
Appearances
37
46
Minutes
2729′
2263′
Goals
8
17
Assists
18
2
Goal Involvements per Match
0.70
0.41
Goal Involvements per Minute
104.96′
119.10′
Appearances
38
44
Minutes
2689′
2678′
Goals
9
6
Assists
7
8
Goal Involvements per Match
0.42
0.31
Goal Involvements per Minute
168.06′
191.28′
In contrast, the Gunners’ ace, who still had a good season himself, scored 17 goals and provided two assists in 46 appearances, which comes out to a still impressive but less effective average of a goal involvement every 2.42 games.
Unfortunately for the Belgian, he’s taken a step back this year, scoring six goals and providing eight assists in 44 appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 3.14 games.
On the other hand, the Bilbao star has scored nine goals and provided seven assists in just 38 appearances, which translates into an average of a goal involvement every 2.37 games.
Furthermore, on top of the clear difference in their output, the Pamplona-born gem is eight years younger than his potential teammate, and with a European Championship and Copa del Rey medal already in his collection, might bring more of a winning mentality to the team.
Ultimately, Trossard is a talented player and someone useful to have in the squad, but it’s abundantly clear that Williams is the far superior winger, so Arsenal should do all they can to sign him this summer.
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