Arsenal have a chance to sign a target they strived hard to sign in 2019 before switching their attentions to Nicolas Pepe. Wilfried Zaha was strongly linked with a move to the club, but in the end the Gunners decided to opt for Pepe.
However, Mikel Arteta has a chance to revive interest in Zaha ahead of next season. This is because according to the Daily Mail, 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.
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.
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Zaha was devastating against the Gunners on Monday evening as the Eagles ran riot in a 3-0 victory. The winger’s performance was topped off with a penalty goal late in the second half which put the game beyond doubt.
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 at the end of the season, as he enters 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 would make sense.
