As Mikel Arteta continues to explore attacking options following the news that Viktor Gyokeres prefers Arsenal to Manchester United, left-wing remains a priority and one of the stars of the Nations League has now entered the picture, valued at £64m.
Arsenal were the least left-wing team in the Premier League last season, launching 10% less attacks down the left than the right flank as neither Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard could provide a consistent threat opposite Bukayo Saka, meaning diversifying that threat is imperative ahead of a 2025/26 campaign that Gunners fans hope will finally be their season.
And Arteta is going all out with new sporting director Andrea Berta to sharpen an attack that scored 17 less top-flight goals than title winners Liverpool, targeting Rafael Leao in the wake of the 26-year-old’s impressive and victorious showing in the Nations League final
CaughtOffside report Chelsea are also after Leao who has a €175m (£149m) release clause but could realistically be bought for €75m (£64m), so Arsenal could sweeten the deal by offering cash plus Oleksandr Zinchenko who could fill multiple holes in Milan’s starting XI with Massimiliano Allegri already interested in the Ukranian according to Corriere dello Sport
Arguably the best ball carrier in the world right now, Leao is truly the complete package in terms of dribbling with speed, physicality and technique combining to create a truly fearsome threat on the wing.
He was fouled six times and drew two yellow cards in less than 45 minutes as a substitute in the Nations League final and the mere thought of combining Lewis-Skelly with Leao on Arsenal’s left flank should be nightmare fuel for Premier League (and Champions League) right-backs. The one consistent weakness in Leao’s game is finishing, as he only matches his expected goals tally meaning he barely scrapes into the top half of most clinical players in his position across Europe’s big five leagues per FBref.com
But the presence of Saka and Gyokeres or Benjamin Sesko in the Arsenal front-line would mean Leao could focus more on what he does best – executing opposition defenders one-on-one and playing in teammates to finish while still going for goal when the moment is right. The AC Milan top scorers since Leao arrived in 2019 have been Ante Rebic, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Olivier Giroud thrice (joint with Leao in 2021-22) and Christian Pulisic – none of whom have broken 20 goals in all competitions.
The winger has had to carry more of the goal-scoring weight with a older and worse supporting cast than he’d be blessed with at Arsenal while also perfecting his craft at one of the world’s biggest clubs from the age of 20 – not as easy task – so a move to north London would suit Leao just as much as it’d elevate the rest of the Gunners.
Alongside Chelsea, Arsenal must also beat off competition from the Saudi Pro League as Al Nassr seek to put the 26-year-old into early retirement though unlike other Portuguese forwards, Leao has never dreamt of winning the The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Cup
Arsenal have the advantage of a wide-open spot at left-wing and the opportunity to play in a new-look front three that could rival Barcelona and PSG as the best on the planet, alongside Saka and Sesko or Gyokeres. But impressing the player is only half the battle and with the release clause out of reach, the Gunners must provide Milan with a competitive offer, which is where Zinchenko comes in.
