Arsenal are reportedly ready to return to their former target Wilfried Zaha, with the winger poised to leave Crystal Palace this summer.
According to 90 min, Arsenal have rekindled their interest in Wilfried Zaha ahead of the summer transfer window as Mikel Arteta continues his search for offensive reinforcements. The 28-year-old forward has been favoured to leave Selhurst Park after the end of the season, with the Eagles now ready to cash in on him.
Zaha, a self-confessed Arsenal fan, was close to securing a move to the Emirates back in the summer of 2019. However, a transfer did not materialise as Crystal Palace stuck true to their hefty valuation of the former Manchester United man. It led to the Gunners eventually settling for an alternative in Nicolas Pepe, with the move being sanctioned through various installments.
Pepe’s move to the Emirates, though, has not quite worked out for Arsenal, with the Ivorian often struggling with a lack of form and consistency. He has seemingly settled in with the pace of English football, but there remains a lack of temperament as well as the confidence that has ultimately stifled his progress in north London.
Zaha, in contrast, has continued to flourish at Selhurst Park, under the leadership of former England manager Roy Hodgson. This season, in particular, the forward has netted nine goals in just 22 matches, helping Crystal Palace maintain their mid-table status. He has, in fact, been involved in one-third of the club’s goals this season.
Such incredible productivity, it seems, has once again attracted the attention of Arsenal who have struggled with the lack of consistency in the ongoing campaign. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, for one, has had issues with his consistency, while being deployed in the wider attacking role has drawn in criticism from experts and fans alike.
The Arsenal captain has also been linked with a shock move away from the Emirates this summer, with Arteta now ready to undergo a massive overhaul in the attacking unit.
It is even fair to assume that Arsenal’s renewed interest in Zaha stems from the possibility of Aubameyang’s departure in the summer as the winger can indeed operate as a centre-forward – a role the 28-year-old has played for the most part of the campaign with Crystal Palace.
In fact, Zaha is a much better fit on the left flank of Arteta’s 4-2-3-1 as the Ivory Coast international prefers playing out wide. Combined with his productivity and experience of English football, that would make him quite an excellent option for the Gunners in the upcoming summer transfer window and it remains to be seen if a move materialises finally for Arsenal.
