Arsenal’s search for another left-sided attacker is continuing after their ambitious pursuit of Vinicius Junior finally came to an end, and a proven Premier League winger has now been suggested as an interesting alternative.
Vinicius officially committed his future to Real Madrid by signing a new contract until June 2032, ending Arsenal’s hopes of taking advantage of the uncertainty surrounding his previous deal, according to Reuters.
Mikel Arteta still has reason to strengthen the left wing. Arsenal have already added Christos Tzolis this summer and spent heavily to bring Bruno Guimarães into midfield, but adding another unpredictable one-v-one attacker could make their frontline even harder to contain.
Pundit suggests Premier League alternative to Arsenal
According to talkSPORT, Bradley Barcola, Iliman Ndiaye and Nico Williams are among the names being considered, while Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz has also been linked.
However, Tony Cascarino believes Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma deserves consideration.
“If he was a tad younger and hadn’t had so many injuries, I’d really look at him,” Cascarino said.
“I thought Mitoma, when he’s been Brighton’s best player, he’s scarily good.
“He had a poor season last year, and a number of injuries. I think he scored three goals in the league for Brighton last year.
“But he’s a dangerous winger – he wants to take people on all the time. And Arsenal have got cover there, so, yeah [I’d go for him].”
Mitoma also has just one year remaining on his Brighton contract, potentially making his situation worth monitoring.
Mitoma could be a sensible option for the Gunners
Mitoma would certainly represent a very different strategy from chasing Vinicius or spending enormous money on Barcola.
At 29, he would offer less long-term value, while his recent injury problems cannot be ignored.
However, Arsenal are trying to win major trophies immediately, and there is value in signing someone already proven in England.
His direct running could also give Arteta something different on the left.
Arsenal already possess players capable of controlling matches, but they sometimes need a winger willing to attack his full-back repeatedly and create something from nothing.
Competition could ultimately determine Arsenal’s choice. Barcola has attracted strong Liverpool interest, while other leading targets would be expensive or difficult to prise away from their clubs.
Mitoma therefore feels less glamorous than some alternatives, but potentially far more achievable.
If Brighton’s asking price reflects his contract situation, this is one surprise opportunity Arsenal should at least explore.
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