In my last article, I named three defenders I would really like to see Arsenal trying to sign this summer. Even before the Laurent Koscielny debacle, it’s clear that’s the biggest weakness in Arsenal’s team.
But when I was asked to name just one player that I want to see Arsenal sign this summer, as much as I know a new centre-back is what Arsenal need, I wouldn’t choose one. I wouldn’t even choose a defender at all. I’d choose Wilfried Zaha.
For a long time, Arsenal haven’t been a big player in the transfer window but the signing of Zaha would change that completely. Signing a centre-back would be the smart move yet in terms of the impact Zaha’s arrival could have on how teams look at Arsenal, it would have a much bigger impact than any new defender could.
Arsenal are willing to offer Mustafi, Elneny or Jenkinson in a bid to sign Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha. (@PurelyFootball)
Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/67ClCWXycL
— Arsenal Viral (@arsenalviral) July 10, 2019
Arsenal going and signing Crystal Palace’s best player when they have no intention of selling would be the most aggressive thing we’ve done in the transfer market for so many years. It’d be a massive power play that showed Arsenal are capable of bringing the best players to the Emirates, especially when so many other clubs are interested in signing him.
Signing Zaha would be very different to when we brought in Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. With Lacazette, we were fortunate that Atletico Madrid were under a transfer ban and when we signed Aubameyang it was off the back of a tough time at Borussia Dortmund. If anything, Arsenal’s timing was the most important factor in signing both of them.
Whereas, if we took Zaha from Crystal Palace after his best ever season it would simply be because we went and got the man we wanted and paid the price, something the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City do so easily.
Wilfried Zaha vs. Arsenal's stat leaders in the Premier League last season:
• Take-ons: 113-46
• Fouls won: 102-77
• Duels won: 263-200
• Chances created: 54-45Time to take it to the next level.pic.twitter.com/wswfNZhy8e
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) July 11, 2019
Sure, a new centre-back would be the smarter signing but a front three of Zaha, Lacazette and Aubameyang would cause problems for every single Premier League defence. By leading from the front, Arsenal’s shortfalls in defence would be less exposed and maybe that’s our route back into the top four next season.
Of course, it would be very hard with Crystal Palace not budging on their £80m+ valuation of Zaha but it’s been such a long time since we’ve prized away a big name player from another club that I think it would be worth it for the impact it could have on Arsenal going forward, both on and off the pitch.
Zaha would be an aggressive, statement signing and he’s one of the best wingers in the Premier League. Most teams have to send out two players to stop him dancing past them and Arsenal could punish teams with the extra space that would create for Lacazette and Aubameyang. Just everything about Zaha’s arrival would take Arsenal up a level and show the sort ambition which fans have been crying out for.
Arsenal fans have had to deal with underinvestment, rocky ownerships, the downfall of Arsene Wenger in his later years and are now in a new era with Unai Emery. It’s about time we started acting like a top-level Premier League club and gave Emery the tools he needs to succeed – the arrival of Zaha would be a hell of a way to do just that.
Words by Robbie
