Arsenal Eyeing Ambitious Winger Renowned for Dribbling and Winning Credentials, Rivalling Saka – Analysis
Arsenal’s title ambitions faced another setback on Saturday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton & Hove Albion.
For the first time since Kai Havertz joined, Mikel Arteta’s squad played a Premier League match without key figures Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, and Havertz, all of whom were among last season’s top four scorers. This absence was noticeable, with the team struggling to create clear attacking opportunities.
Last season, Arsenal scored 91 goals in the Premier League, their highest tally since their 1952/53 title-winning campaign.
They also made history by becoming the first team in the Premier League to score five or more goals in six different away matches in a single calendar year (2024), breaking records previously held by Sunderland (1892) and Manchester City (1937).
However, this season, Arsenal have scored zero or one goal in nine out of 20 league matches, while league leaders Liverpool have only had this happen twice, underscoring the need for attacking reinforcements, especially with Saka out for “more than two months.”
Arsenal Targeting Bundesliga Winger
With Saka sidelined and Ethan Nwaneri—who scored against Brighton—also injured, Arsenal’s need for new signings this winter has intensified. According to Football Insider’s Connor Humm, the Gunners are targeting Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman.
Currently valued at £28 million, Coman is under contract with Bayern until June 2027.
Coman’s track record as a “serial winner” could provide Arsenal with a significant boost.
European football analyst Zach Lowy has pointed out that Coman has won league titles in each of his first 11 professional seasons—two with Paris Saint-Germain, one with Juventus, and eight with Bayern Munich. This pedigree could aid Arsenal’s pursuit of success.
No player has won titles in all four of Europe’s “big five” leagues, a statistic that Arsenal fans hope will change if Coman joins this month.
While any winger Arsenal acquires in January will face the challenge of matching Saka’s impact, a comparison between the two reveals similarities in their playing styles. According to FBRef’s “similar players” feature, Saka and Coman are among the most comparable players in Europe’s top leagues.
Since August 2022, Saka has played double the minutes of Coman, resulting in higher totals for goals and assists, as well as a strong +9.2 goals minus expected goals (xG) figure. While it’s unlikely Arsenal will find a player as talented as Saka in January, Coman’s numbers suggest he could still be a valuable addition.
Coman has successfully completed nearly half of his attempted dribbles, a notable contrast to Gabriel Martinelli, who has faced criticism for his recent performances.
Coman also leads Saka in progressive carries per 90 minutes, offering Arsenal’s attack a potential new dimension. With four goals in just 885 minutes of play this season, Coman’s scoring ability could further enhance Arsenal’s attacking options.
While Coman may not be Arteta’s ideal long-term choice, he could still provide significant value if signed this month.
