Arsenal Reportedly Get Major Transfer Boost, with Forward Keen to Join the Gunners This Year
Arsenal target Matheus Cunha has reportedly expressed a strong preference for a move to the Emirates from Wolverhampton Wanderers, choosing the Gunners over other Premier League rivals such as Manchester United.
On Saturday afternoon, Arsenal narrowly defeated Wolves away from home, securing a 1-0 victory despite Myles Lewis-Skelly’s controversial first-half red card.
Mikel Arteta’s side managed to keep the gap to league leaders Liverpool at six points. However, with key players Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus sidelined for months due to injuries, strengthening the squad in the January transfer window may prove crucial to sustaining their title challenge.
While Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak has been linked with a move to Arsenal, reports suggest that Newcastle are preparing to offer the striker a new long-term contract to ward off interest.
Meanwhile, according to TEAMtalk, Wolves forward Cunha is prepared to turn down potential transfers to Chelsea, Newcastle, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur in favour of joining Arsenal this month, as the Brazilian is eager to compete for the Premier League title.
What Would Cunha Offer Arsenal?
Cunha is not a traditional striker like Erling Haaland and is often seen drifting into pockets of space on the left to collect the ball.
The Brazilian frequently operates alongside a central striker, someone who can act as a focal point during attacking plays.
Despite Wolves currently sitting in 18th place, Cunha has recorded an impressive 10 goals and four assists in the Premier League this season.
Notably, the 25-year-old has significantly outperformed his expected goals (xG) tally, having accumulated just 4.8 xG in the top flight so far.
Cunha’s influence extends beyond direct goal contributions, as his ball-carrying ability could prove valuable to Arsenal. This is particularly important for a team that has occasionally struggled to progress the ball through central areas and has faced challenges in breaking down defences.
The importance of Saka’s injury cannot be overstated, as he has arguably been Arsenal’s standout performer for several seasons.
Cunha would not serve as a direct replacement for Saka, as he tends to operate more effectively on the left side of the pitch and offers slightly less creativity in terms of passing.
While overtaking Liverpool’s lead in the Premier League seems a challenging task, Cunha could become a valuable asset for Arsenal in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Arsenal have demonstrated strong defensive resilience, and Cunha’s ball-carrying ability could be instrumental in swiftly transitioning from defence to attack against Europe’s elite teams.
European clubs often struggle against transition-based attacks, and the Brazilian could exploit high defensive lines, complementing players like Gabriel Martinelli, who excel in open spaces.
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