It finally happened: After weeks of waiting, Arsenal announced their first signing of the summer transfer window.
Granted, it might not be the most exciting deal of all time, but acquiring a player of Kepa Arrizabalaga’s quality for just £5m is astute business and helps address the issue of a backup goalkeeper.
However, while the likes of Eberchi Eze and Rodrygo are also being touted for moves to the club, so too is another Chelsea player, Noni Madueke.
Fortunately, another Premier League winger has now been linked with Arsenal, a player who’d be a way better signing than the Blues star.
Arsenal target Madueke upgrade
It’s become something of a running joke that a transfer window is not fully complete until Arsenal sign a Chelsea player, and with Madueke now being linked with the North Londoners, there is a chance they could sign two.
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According to reports from as recently as yesterday, the Gunners might have already submitted an offer to the English international.
It’s not entirely clear how much he’d cost Mikel Arteta’s side, but based on stories from late last month, the fee could be around the £50m mark.
While he might be talented, it’s hard to imagine fans being particularly on board with signing another of the Blues’ seemingly unwanted attacking players, so it’s good news that they’ve now been linked with another winger target: Anthony Elanga.
At least that’s according to a recent report from TBR Football, which claims that the Gunners are one of several sides interested in the Nottingham Forest star.
Alongside the Gunners, the report has revealed that Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Newcastle United are all keen on the dynamic wideman, with the Toon already making an offer.
On top of having to contend with the fierce competition, the North Londoners will also have to stump up a fee of around £60m to get their man.
It won’t be an easy transfer to get over the line, but Elanga has shown he could be a valuable addition to a team like Arsenal, and a far better signing than Madueke at that.
How Elanga compares to Madueke
So, if it comes down to signing one winger or the other, why would Arsenal be better off going for Elanga over Madueke?
Well, aside from the fact that a new left-winger feels like a more pressing need following the emergence of Ethan Nwaneri last season, the Nottingham Forest star is simply the more dangerous attacker.
For example, in 43 appearances for the Tricky Trees last season, the Hyllie-born phenom racked up a tally of six goals and 12 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal or assist every 2.38 games.
In contrast, despite playing for a team that finished higher up the Premier League table, the Barnet-born wideman has scored 11 goals and provided five assists in 44 appearances, three of which have come at the Club World Cup, which works out to an average of a goal or assist every 2.58 games.
Moreover, the one-sided nature of the comparison only extends when we take a look under the hood, at their respective underlying numbers from last season.
Non-Penalty G+As
0.61
0.44
Progressive Passes
2.27
3.05
Progressive Carries
3.67
6.81
Key Passes
1.80
1.42
Passes into the Final Third
1.15
0.71
Shot-Creating Actions
3.67
3.50
Goal-Creating Actions
0.65
0.35
For example, the former Manchester United gem comes out on top in most relevant metrics, including some truly key ones, such as non-penalty goals plus assists, key passes and shot and goal-creating actions per 90.
Finally, on top of having the output and statistics fall in his favour, the Swedish international has one more advantage over the Chelsea ace: his blistering pace.
Now, the Englishman is no slouch, but the Forest star is unusually quick, so much so that he dubbed himself “one of the fastest players in the league.”
That might sound a little arrogant, but it’s true, as his speed of 36.91km/h against Tottenham Hotspur in April 2024 was the fourth-fastest sprint in Premier League history.
Ultimately, Elanga is clearly the superior player to Madueke, and if Arsenal are going to be signing a new winger from the Premier League, they’d be far better off going for him over the Blues ace.
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