Edu, the newly promoted sporting director of Arsenal, has worked successfully to overhaul the squad alongside manager Mikel Arteta, head of football operations Richard Garlick, the owners and his team of scouts and analysts. The Gunners have seen their fortunes soar in the three-plus years of his tenure but as in football is so common things can suddenly change and the Brazilian must avoid the potential traps.
Arteta has outlined on numerous occasions that Arsenal will only accept quality to come through the doors at Arsenal. This perhaps outlines why deals for some players have stalled or simply not been committed to, such as the recently reported Danilo no longer being looked at.
Yet, despite this mindset, The Athletic claim that Arsenal are considering joining the race for Atletico Madrid forward Matheus Cunha. The Brazilian moved to La Liga from Hertha Berlin in 2021 and scored six goals and chipped in with six assists in 29 league games, although was mainly a substitute behind Joao Felix and Antoine Griezmann.
READ MORE: Arsenal’s Danilo interest ends as Mikel Arteta challenges Edu to find January transfer quality
This season the theme has continued and as such the 23-year-old has not yet scored for the Rojiblancos. After being linked with some quality additions this winter, Cunha strikes many as a player who, like at Atleti, would be a bit-part player for the Gunners and seen as a short-term solution to Gabriel Jesus’ injury.
With more than three years remaining on his deal, Simeone would be hoping to get a significant fee for the player. Edu should, in my view, be very cautious about potentially filling a spot in his squad with Cunha.
His teammate Joao Felix is also said to be of interest to the Gunners. A player of significantly higher pedigree and quality with a stylistic fit with the Gunners to see a more seamless merge with the existing group.
It is easy to fall into the trap of seeing a player injured and jumping at the chance to sign a player from a good club to be the replacement. The problem is that Cunha, who is courted by many other Premier League sides like Wolves and Everton, is not going to leave on a temporary deal and will likely sign a long-term contract.
Cunha would, if signed by Arsenal, fill a spot in the squad that otherwise could have been filled by a better player. Arsenal have made these mistakes before and Edu himself told football.london how he needed to ‘invest’ in terminating the deals of underperforming players.
"Take it out. I know it hurts, I know it’s strange when I go to the board and say, 'Sometimes it’s better to pay a player to leave, than maintain them,' but I consider it an investment," he said previously.
“Sometimes people say, 'It’s expensive' I say, 'no, it’s investment'. But someone will pay if you sell? No, guys — if the player is above 26, 27 and not performing, big salary, no chance."
Arsenal need to make the right choice. Signing Cunha, a player out of form and out of practice on a long-term deal, takes up a spot that would be better filled with a greater guarantee of return.
Arsenal links to the Brazilian perhaps represent the size of the gap left by Gabriel Jesus and the likes of Bukayo Saka will need to step up in addition to January reinforcement. If Saka makes your vote for player of the year then vote below:
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