At a Glance:
- Arsenal should make a move for a match-winning forward.
- Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Real Madrid now eyeing Rafael Leao.
- Both Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres have been disappointing signings.
Arsenal simply cannot go another summer without signing a difference-maker in attack; a flaw in their squad that has played a part in their lack of tangible success over the years.
Noni Madueke has underwhelmed at Arsenal and is yet to prove that he is worthy of being considered a bankable forward at the highest level.
Meanwhile, Viktor Gyokeres has been slammed since his move to the Emirates Stadium and with Mikel Arteta benching him against Manchester City, questions must be posed about his addition to the club.
Other elite clubs seem to be targeting a top-class forward, with the Daily Mail linking Rafael Leao to Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Real Madrid.
Arsenal should make a move for Rafael Leao
AC Milan are reported to be open to listen to offers for Leao, who could depart the Italian giants for £60 million in the summer – a fee several top clubs consider “excellent value.” The question is, why are Arsenal not in the mix of clubs targeting the Portuguese international’s signature?
In the past three seasons, Leao has registered an impressive tally of 26 goals and 23 assists in 64 Serie A starts.
| Rafael Leao: ’23/24, ’24/25 and ’25/26 | Serie A stats |
| Starts | 64 |
| Goals | 26 |
| Assists | 23 |
The out-of-sorts Gabriel Martinelli could leave Arsenal in the summer while Leandro Trossard has not had his best season, making a new left-winger a priority signing for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Leao operates in a league of his own compared to Martinelli and Trossard, especially as a dribbler due to his quick feet and searing pace making him virtually impossible to contain.
Furthermore, the AC Milan wideman’s speed is especially one of his special traits as over long distances, he seems to get quicker; a quality that makes him lethal on the counter-attack. Whereas the North Londoners struggle to take advantage of such situations, which is another reason behind Arsenal’s blunt attack.
Most notably, Leao is capable of producing match-winning moments, with his outstanding assist for Olivier Giroud against Napoli in the second-leg of the 2023 Champions League quarter-final being a standout example.
Having won the Serie A, the Supercoppa Italiana and the UEFA Nations League, the addition of a winner like 26-year-old to an Arsenal squad that lack many is another reason why his signing would make sense.
Rafael Leao claimed he could hit Cristiano Ronaldo ‘levels’
Mikel Arteta lacks a maverick like Rayan Cherki in his roster and often, attackers with such elite quality and bold characters lead sides to winning silverware.
The former Lille forward has spearheaded AC Milan for years and he would likely embrace the challenge of doing the same at the Emirates Stadium if given a chance.
Leao’s confidence seems limitless, having claimed that he could hit the heights of Cristiano Ronaldo in a post shared by Pubity Sport.
🗣️ Rafael Leão on who his idol is: Cristiano Ronaldo. I can get to his levels, but I'm not a selfish player." 😮 pic.twitter.com/TY0LRmUXfc
— Pubity Sport (@pubitysport) January 1, 2024
“Cristiano Ronaldo [my idol]. I can get to his levels.
Leao concluded: “But I’m not and will never be a selfish player.”
