How electric £75m target compares to Martinelli, Trossard as Berta masterplan accelerates

As Arsenal join the race to sign one of the Premier League’s best left forwards this summer, TEAMtalk has taken a look at how he compares to the two players who alternate in that position at the Emirates Stadium under Mikel Arteta.

The Gunners are currently five points clear at the top of the Premier League as they chase an elusive first title in the top flight for over 20 years, although Manchester City could cut that gap to two if they win their game in hand.

However, regardless of what has been another good season for the club under Arteta, Arsenal remain on the hunt for players and positional upgrades that can improve their squad, with sporting director Andrea Berta leading that hunt.

One player we can confirm who is very much on their radar is Anthony Gordon, with our own Fraser Fletcher revealing the Gunners are battling Liverpool and Manchester United for the explosive Newcastle and England winger.

Capable of playing as a left winger, which arguably remains his best position, or in the middle, Gordon would be a constant for Arteta rather than chopping and changing, as he does with Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli.

With that in mind, we decided to take a look at a stats comparison between Gordon, Trossard and Martinelli this season to see if it’s worth Arsenal shelling out the more than £75 million (€85.6 million/$101 million) that Newcastle will demand for the pacy striker.

Anthony Gordon

Games:38

Goals: 14

Aids:5

Minutes per G/A: 122

On his day, Gordon is one of the Premier League’s most electrifying attacking talents, but do those stats really represent who he is as a player? Indeed, one could argue strongly that given the ease with which he is able to move into the scoring and center positions, primarily due to that devastating speed, there should be more of the end product.

Indeed, eight of those 14 goals this season have come from the penalty spot, while four goals came in a match during the Champions League clash against Qarabag recently – and two of them from the penalty spot.

Arteta would clearly want more assists from a player who will likely be Thomas Tuchel’s starting left-footed striker for England at this summer’s World Cup, although the Spaniard has a track record of improving players.

There is, however, a huge advantage to having a player who poses such a threat, in that opposing teams often have to bring out a midfielder to double, which opens up more space for a major strength of Arteta’s team – that central space between midfield and attack.

Martin Odegaard has been a creative specialist from that No.10 role until the last 18 months, and although his form has dipped, Eberechi Eze now takes on that role. If only he could face Tottenham every week, he would probably already be at 40 goals/assists this season!

Gordon also has the added advantage of being able to play in the middle, where this electric spot allows him to slot in behind the central defenders. Indeed, the 25-year-old has managed to score six goals in nine games as the Magpies’ No.9 this campaign.

Arsenal’s biggest problem, as our report suggests, will be getting Newcastle to say yes to a deal, while Gordon also remains a major Liverpool target and would like to return to the club where he began his career as a junior – and we know how that played out in Eze’s case after he looked certain to join Spurs.

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Léandro Trossard

Games:35

Goals:7

Aids: 8

Minutes per G/A: 137

Trossard remains a player who never really lets Arsenal down, whether he is a starter or has a decisive impact off the bench.

In terms of value for money, the Gunners landed an absolute gem by spending just £27 million on the Belgian full-back in January 2023, with Trossard having scored a total of 66 goals in 159 outings for the club to date.

The 31-year-old will, however, be out of contract in the summer of 2027, leaving Arsenal with an important decision to make at the end of this season, if they decide to replace Gordon and cash in on the player.

However, Trossard is a trusted rotation piece in Arteta’s system who should stay in place at least until the end of his contract and then reassess his situation from there.

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Gabriel Martinelli

Games:35

Goals: 11

Aids:3

Minutes per G/A: 109

The Brazil international has the best minutes-to-goal involvement ratio of the three players mentioned, although this is largely due to the fact that he has started far fewer games than Gordon and Trossard.

Indeed, just under half of Martinelli’s appearances for Arsenal this season in all competitions have come in the starting XI, with the 24-year-old playing far fewer minutes as a result.

A groin injury which forced the striker to miss a few games played a part in that, but there is a feeling around the Emirates that Arsenal are set to cash in on Martinelli while his value is still relatively high.

Like Trossard, his current contract expires in 2027, meaning this summer represents the best opportunity to secure significant compensation for his services.

Spanish giants Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have both shown concrete interest in the Gunners striker, with fees in the region of €45m (£39m, $53m) proposed for a player with one year remaining on his contract.

But if Arsenal are looking to do a deal for Gordon, or another left-wing striker, it makes perfect sense to take what they can for Martinelli.

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