Arsenal were unable to sign a winger in the summer transfer window, despite the clear need to strengthen in the wide areas. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are under a lot of pressure to perform until the next opportunity to address this area of the pitch opens.
With the wide areas needing to be strengthened, one player who is a possibility for the Gunners is Memphis Depay from Barcelona, as it would give Arsenal fluidity in the attack between the Dutchman and Gabriel Jesus. Arsenal were reportedly interested in the summer, but a deal never materialised for the Barcelona man.
Depay would be a good signing for Arsenal, but more so as a winger or secondary forward. Arsenal’s capture of Jesus in the summer transfer window, helped improve the forward line, but there is still more work needed in the upcoming transfer window to bolster Arteta's options, which should be seen as critical following knee injury that has ruled Jesus out for the foreseeable future.
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Despite Arsenal's previous interest in Depay, it has now emerged that Edu could also face competition from Newcastle. In the summer, Spanish outlet Fichajes reported that the Gunners were looking at making a move for Barcelona forward Depay.
The Netherlands international has fallen out of favour at Camp Nou since Xavi took control of the club, and with Robert Lewandowski joining it has pushed him further down the pecking order, meaning Edu can pounce on a deal for Depay.
However, the Daily Express are now reporting that Newcastle will launch a January bid to bring Depay back to the Premier League. The 28-year-old previously had a stint at Manchester United.
Despite Jesus’ arrival, Edu still needs to add more firepower to Arteta’s options in the upcoming transfer windows. Joao Felix has been linked to the club, but the Daily Mail have claimed that Arsenal deem the figures to sign the Portugal international as too expensive.
Depay has tons of European experience having made 74 appearances in the Champions League and scoring 24 goals in the process, showing that he would be a good alternative option from a goalscoring perspective for the Gunners. But, Newcastle’s reported proposal to Barcelona would prevent Arsenal from adding a cheap but effective signing to bolster Arteta's attacking options in the January transfer window.
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