Rodrygo to Arsenal: ‘That’s a real statement behind a world-class No.9’
Arsenal can make a “real statement” if they sign Rodrygo from Real Madrid despite their transfer priority being a striker.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Paul Robinson said that Rodrygo, Bukayo Saka and a new centre-forward could form a devastating front three for Arsenal.
The Gunners will be in pursuit of a “world-class number nine” this summer after the injury woes of Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz this season, with Mikel Merino forced to play as a makeshift striker.
Rodrygo has been linked with an exit from Real Madrid on several occasions this term, and Manchester City failed in their short-lived pursuit last August before Liverpool expressed an interest in signing him.
Former England goalkeeper Robinson told Football Insider that with Bukayo Saka’s place on the right flank assured, Rodrygo would still be an “upgrade” on Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard on the left.
However, Arsenal cannot look past the acquisition of a top-class centre-forward as their number one priority this summer, with Benjamin Sesko the latest name linked with a big-money move to the Emirates.
Rodrygo and Saka to be ‘one hell of a pairing’ for Arsenal
Football Insider revealed on 5 May that Raheem Sterling’s loan spell from Chelsea won’t be extended beyond the end of the season, and that will leave a vacancy on the left for Rodrygo to potentially fill.
Speaking on the new Inside Track, Robinson couldn’t help but be excited at the prospect of Rodrygo and Saka’s potential partnership on the Gunners’ flanks, but underlined their more pressing need for a striker.
“[Rodrygo] is a wide player – they need a number nine, but if you sign him and a number nine, that’s a real statement”, Robinson told Football Insider.
“What it would cost you to get Rodrygo, and would he want to go to Arsenal, is two different things. The need for a number nine is pressing.
“Saka will play on the right-hand side, Rodrygo can play on the left – if you have those two as a wide pairing, that’s one hell of a pairing to fit in behind a world-class number nine.
“With Martinelli and Trossard, neither of those two have hit the heights regularly, performance-wise, that you would expect from the likes of Saka. So to upgrade on that side, yes, that’s an option for Arsenal.
“Raheem Sterling, his loan’s not going to be made permanent, that’s not going to happen. He’ll be looking for pastures new at the start of next season.”
Arsenal transfer priorities clear ahead of vital summer
With Sterling set to return to Stamford Bridge this summer and upgrades sought on both Trossard and Martinelli, signing a Real Madrid starter would be a sign that Arsenal’s pulling power is alive and well.
Brentford’s top scorer Bryan Mbeumo is another player linked with a switch to the Emirates, but with Mikel Arteta under pressure to finally deliver a Premier League title, an out-and-out striker is needed.
Sesko and Rodrygo would both fit the ball as “statement” transfers, but with experienced heads like Ollie Watkins potentially on the market, Arsenal can’t affort any distractions in their hunt for a centre-forward whose goals can be the difference in next season’s title race.