BETTER THAN MARTINELLI: WHY ARSENAL LEADS THE £88M RACE FOR KENAN YıLDıZ
Arsenal leads the race for Juventus star Kenan Yıldız. Is the £88m wonderkid the key to unlocking Arteta's stalling attack?
Arsenal is leading both the Premier League and Champions League right now, but their play hasn't been great lately.
One reason could be tiredness. They've had some really tough games in the past month or so.
Plus, injuries have forced Mikel Arteta to keep changing his defence for each game.
But a bigger worry is their attack just doesn't flow as well. Bukayo Saka is still playing great, but Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli haven't been. There are whispers Arsenal might want to find someone better than Martinelli next month.
Arsenal Eyes Yıldız to Boost Attack
Arsenal has had one of the best defences in the Premier League for years, but they don't score the most goals.
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Last year, they scored 17 fewer goals than Liverpool. The year before, they scored five fewer than Manchester City.
Getting Gyokeres this summer was supposed to fix that, but he's struggling to score. It seems like Arsenal wants another player on the left side to help out.
A report from Caught Offside says Arsenal is still very keen on Kenan Yıldız.
The story says Arsenal is 'leading the interest' and trying to get him because his contract talks with Juventus have stopped. Chelsea is also interested.
The report also mentions Arsenal has spoken directly with Yıldız's agent, Jorge Mendes.
The price is unknown, but earlier reports said it might take around £88m to get Juventus to sell.
It would be an expensive deal, but Yıldız is worth the effort because he's better than Martinelli.
Yıldız vs. Martinelli: By the Numbers
Yıldız can play well in different positions, whether on the right or in the middle.
Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke are on the right, and Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze play in the middle. It seems like Yıldız's best spot on the Arsenal team would be on the left.
That means he'd be competing with Martinelli, and he'd probably win based on their stats.
Last year, Yıldız, who is 20, scored 12 goals and had nine assists in 52 games. That's a goal involvement every 2.47 games.
Martinelli scored ten goals and got six assists in 51 games. That's a goal involvement every 3.18 games, which isn't as good.
This season, Martinelli has seven goal involvements in 18 games, which is one every 2.57 games. Still not as good.
Yıldız has 12 goal involvements in 21 games, which is one every 1.75 games. He himself even said he's considered one of the best talents in Europe.
Even the underlying numbers say Yıldız is better. According to FBref, he's ahead in non-penalty goals plus assists, shots and goal-creating actions, ball recoveries, successful take-ons, and other stats, all per 90 minutes.
Martinelli is a good player who can still help Arsenal this season. But if Arsenal can sign Yıldız, they should do it. He's clearly better in almost every way.
DAVID RAYA CONFIRMS BAYERN MUNICH MOVE NEARLY HAPPENED BEFORE ARSENAL BID INTERVENED
Jamie Carragher labels David Raya one of the world's best as Arsenal sit nine points clear in the 2026 title race.
Arsenal’s goalkeeper David Raya recently opened up about how close he came to joining Bayern Munich before ultimately signing with the Gunners. The Spain international has blossomed into one of Europe’s top goalkeepers under Mikel Arteta's guidance, but his path almost led him to the Bundesliga giants instead.
Raya’s story
Initially, Arsenal brought Raya on loan for the 2023/24 season, and by July 2024, they made the move permanent for around £27 million. Despite the apparent smoothness of that transfer, Raya revealed that Bayern Munich had been seriously interested in him. As Fabrizio Romano reported, Raya said, “I was very, very close to joining another club, but luckily that didn’t happen, and in the end Arsenal made a bid, and I came here. Which club? It was Bayern Munich.”
Arteta’s praise
Arteta hasn’t held back when praising Raya’s performances. After their recent Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen, he described Raya as “absolutely amazing". Highlighting the keeper’s crucial saves in consecutive matches, Arteta emphasised how vital Raya has been. “In two games, it was a set piece last time and a header before that, and today he has an action. He makes an incredible save. That’s why he’s here. We need to value the keeper that we have because he’s absolutely amazing.”
Heinze’s impact
Raya also spoke about the influence of coach Gabriel Heinze, the ex-Manchester United defender, especially on their defensive mentality. Raya credited Heinze with instilling a fighting spirit and high intensity, which he sees as key to success in the Premier League. “He’s a guy, he’s a coach; where he wants us to fight – a lot of intensity. To win games, you have to defend very well, especially in this league. This is the toughest league in the world. You have to be very, very, very solid to be able to win games. Normally, games are won by one goal. So, it’s really, really important to keep that asset from us, from everyone. Not just the back line, just every single player. So, it’s a lot of credit to him as well.”
Expert opinion
Even Jamie Carragher has praised Raya’s quality this season, calling him “a brilliant goalkeeper” and one of Arsenal’s best signings. He compared Raya favourably to other top Premier League keepers, saying, “David Raya, for me, it’s between him and Alisson in the Premier League for the best goalkeeper. He’s certainly one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and that’s why he keeps so many clean sheets.”
What’s ahead?
As it stands, Arsenal lead the Premier League by nine points over Manchester City, albeit having played one extra match. Before thinking about the title race, though, Arsenal face City in the Carabao Cup final this weekend. Arteta expressed confidence in his team’s ability to bring home the trophy: “I’m really prepared and confident that we’re going to make it happen. When it comes to the crucial moments and when it comes to the moment to attack a trophy, take it and bring it home, that’s when you need to step up and make a difference. That’s why we are all very excited because we know what is at stake, and now it’s about the next step, the next game... It’s one of the defining moments because at the end, it’s whether you win the trophy or not. We need to prove that point. That’s clear. And that has to be done on the pitch.”
HOW MIKEL ARTETA’S TACTICAL PATIENCE SECURED ARSENAL’S HISTORIC NINE POINT LEAGUE LEAD
Mikel Arteta reflects on Arsenal's defining 2-0 win over Everton, moving the Gunners ten points clear at the top.
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Mikel Arteta reflected on Arsenal’s recent 2-0 win over Everton, a result that extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to nine points. The goals came late in the game from Viktor Gyökeres and Max Dowman, and with the tension high at the Emirates, this match might well stand out as a defining moment in the club’s journey this season.
He described the past couple of months as remarkable, highlighting the team’s presence across all competitions and their consistent approach of treating every match as decisive. Of course, performances vary; some days they’re solid, sometimes exceptional, and occasionally not at their best, but what impresses Arteta most is the team's persistent hunger to win.
The challenge against Everton was significant. Arteta pointed out their quality and coaching, noting how dangerous they were whenever they approached the box and just how tough they made it to break them down. As the game wore on, the pressure to secure the victory increased, which required the team to remain composed and mature. Arteta praised both the players and the crowd for their patience, waiting for the right moments to strike rather than forcing the issue prematurely.
At 0-0, he was visibly pushing hard for a breakthrough, stressing the importance of collective effort; the players were giving their all, and the support staff were fully engaged to back them. Viktor’s goal, in particular, stood out not just because it put the game beyond doubt but also for the way his presence and pace changed the dynamic whenever he was involved. Max Dowman’s energy was also a key factor in lifting the stadium atmosphere.
Arteta also acknowledged the contributions of other players like Gabriel Martinelli and Cristian Mosquera, especially when Jurrien Timber was unavailable. This adaptability has been a recurring theme throughout the season. The impact of the squad members stepping up when called upon underlines why the team is where it is now.
Finally, Arteta touched on the camaraderie within the dressing room; even when his decisions might not always be popular or seem fair, the players accept them with a shared goal to help the team succeed. This mindset, he believes, speaks volumes about the character of the group he’s working with.
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