Former Arsenal star Paul Merson is urging the Gunners to signal Wilfried Zaha this summer season and believes the Crystal Palace star would ‘make the distinction’ in Mikel Arteta’s facet.
Zaha has been a high Arsenal goal up to now. Certainly it regarded as if a deal could be struck again in 2019 earlier than the Gunners switched targets. They went for Nicolas Pepe as an alternative and Merson believes that was an enormous mistake.
Nevertheless he says that Arsenal have an opportunity to make amends by getting Zaha this summer season. Talking in his column in the Daily Star, Merson believes now could be the perfect time to swoop.
Arsenal are thought to have had a £40m bid rejected once they tried the primary time. They refused to go any greater and Zaha ended up staying with the Eagles. As a substitute they splashed out £72m on Pepe.
Discount signing
Zaha is now 30 however Merson is in little doubt that the winger could be a fantastic signing. The price is not going to be as excessive now and Zaha might characterize nice worth.
“Arsenal ought to return in for Wilfried Zaha and attempt to signal him from Crystal Palace this summer season,” Merson wrote. “They needed him earlier than and missed out. However Zaha needed to affix them and he received’t keep at Palace eternally.
“I feel he would have made a distinction to Arsenal. He’s higher than Nicolas Pepe. He attracts gamers in the direction of him and makes issues occur.”
Pepe has struggled for constant game-time this season. Nevertheless the identical can’t be stated of Zaha.
He’s doing the enterprise for the Eagles this season with 10 objectives and two assists in 27 video games. That compares to Pepe’s three objectives and 5 assists in 18 appearances. And Merson is aware of who he would sooner have.
“You’d get him a bit cheaper and he’s a greater participant now than he was once they tried earlier than,” he added. “I feel Pepe goes this summer season if they’ll discover a purchaser, and in the end they’ll strive Gabriel Martinelli up entrance.”
Arsenal face competitors
Arsenal will little doubt face competitors if Palace are open to promoting Zaha. Each Tottenham and Everton have additionally been linked.
Palace shall be eager to maintain maintain. Former Eagles star Clinton Morrison has simply urged them to safe his future. But when Arsenal come knocking it will be onerous to withstand.
Like Merson stated he was eager in 2019 and this could possibly be his final probability with a top-four membership. The transfer to Manchester United failed and he could possibly be eager on one other crack.
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