Arsenal desperately need to sign a winger to bolster Mikel Arteta’s firepower ahead of next season. Raphinha seemed to be the main target for the Gunners but a deal fell through after Chelsea attempted to hijack a deal.
However, Edu has been given a lifeline to solve the issue in the wide areas after it emerged that Wilfried Zaha’s contract now only has one-year remaining. This gives the Brazilian a chance to sign the Ivorian winger for a cut-price fee as Crystal Palace will want to avoid losing him on a free transfer.
The Gunners have previously shown interest in the winger, and with the failure to sign Raphinha in this transfer window, Zaha could be an excellent alternative considering he has the necessary Premier League experience.
READ MORE: Matteo Guendouzi has already shown Mikel Arteta why Arsenal must avoid Raphinha 'Plan B' move
Daily Mail reported earlier in the season that Crystal Palace are willing to sell the winger in the summer as they feel they’re finally in a position to cope without him with Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze in their ranks.
Nicolas Pepe has struggled to stamp his marker as an Arsenal player, which could force Edu to sell him the summer. Zaha has the necessary experience to come in and make an immediate impact which could work in Arteta’s favour.
The 29-year-old was repeatedly linked with a move to Arsenal during Unai Emery’s spell as the club’s boss. However, a deal never managed to materialise and it seemed as though both parties realised that a transfer would never happen.
But Pepe’s inability to settle as a player at Arsenal could have reopened the door for Zaha to make the switch to north London. The Gunners need to make the decision whether to keep or sell Pepe this transfer window, as he has entered the territory of having less than three years left on his contract.
Keeping him beyond two years remaining on his contract will massively debunk his value. It will also increase the threat of losing him on a free transfer which would be an absolute nightmare considering his £72m price tag.
The Ivorian joined the club in 2019 for a club-record fee of £72m from Lille with the highest of expectations due to his success in Ligue 1. But he has only contributed with 27 goals and 17 assists.
If the Gunners were to sell Pepe at the end of the season, then competition alongside Saka would certainly be needed. Despite the excellent performances the Englishman has shown for Arsenal throughout the season, there has been times when he has shown signs of burnout, and having someone who can help successfully share the attacking load would certainly be beneficial.
Zaha certainly could be a short-term solution to this. He has proved through the last five seasons that he is one of the most feared wingers in the Premier League and has kept Crystal Palace floating above water in the top division.
A deal could certainly be possible as a video emerged on social media of Zaha being interviewed by Italian journalist Alessandro Schiavone in 2017. And when asked which team the Palace star supported as a child, he said: "Arsenal. Still do."
Zaha certainly should not be Arsenal’s first choice to replace Pepe due to his age. However, if Arteta is looking for a short-term solution, then the signing of the Crystal Palace winger would make sense.
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