Arsenal keen on winger but remain cautious over transfer demands | OneFootball

Arsenal Monitoring Nico Williams Amid Injury Setback and Uncertainty

Forward planning continues as Arsenal assess summer options

As Arsenal look ahead to a defining summer transfer window, discussions around attacking reinforcements are beginning to take shape. At the centre of those conversations is Nico Williams, a player long admired by Mikel Arteta and seen internally as a potential solution to Arsenal’s depth issues in wide areas.

According to GiveMeSport, Williams remains high on the club’s shortlist, though a move is far from confirmed. “Arsenal are yet to fully make up their minds on whether they will make a move,” sources close to the club confirmed. The hesitation is partly mirrored by the player himself, who is “still torn over the prospect of leaving Athletic Club in the upcoming summer transfer window.”

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Unpredictability and pace appeal to Arteta

For all the uncertainty, Arteta’s admiration is clear. “Arteta would also love to bring him to the club,” GiveMeSport reports, highlighting Williams’ “explosive, unpredictable, and direct style of play” as exactly the kind of dynamic quality Arsenal want to inject into their forward line. With Bukayo Saka managing injuries this season and Raheem Sterling struggling to settle, the need for game-changing width is evident.

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The Gunners had even planned to scout Williams during Athletic Club’s upcoming clash with Manchester United, viewing it as a litmus test for how he performs in higher-pressure matches. But a groin injury has ruled him out of the fixture, dealing a blow to Arsenal’s evaluation process and adding another layer of complication to an already delicate situation.

Wages a concern, but not a deal-breaker

One of the sticking points, privately suggested to GiveMeSport, is the player’s wage demands. While “Arsenal are wary” of the financial implications, sources state that Williams “wouldn’t let such an element stand in the way of him making a move, if that is what he decides to do.”

It underscores a willingness on the player’s part to consider the right footballing project—if Arsenal move decisively.

Contingency planning already underway

Should a move for Williams stall, sporting director Andrea Berta will have alternative names to consider. Rafael Leão has been floated as a potential option, but GiveMeSport stress “there isn’t much in it” and he’s “not expected to join Arsenal this summer.”

That keeps the focus firmly on Williams—for now.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

If you’re an Arsenal supporter, there’s genuine excitement around the idea of Nico Williams landing at the Emirates. He’s not just fast—he’s fearless. His ability to stretch defences, take players on one-v-one, and operate on either flank offers something this squad hasn’t had consistently since the peak of Theo Walcott or Alexis Sánchez.

Saka’s fitness issues this season exposed just how thin Arsenal are in terms of natural wingers who can beat a man and deliver real final-third impact. Williams isn’t the finished article, but he doesn’t need to be—not yet. What matters is the trajectory, and right now, his ceiling looks ideal for a team trying to take the final step towards Premier League glory.

The wage question is fair, but let’s be honest—if Arsenal want to compete with Europe’s elite, they’ll have to pay like one. Fans would much rather see the club commit to a player of Williams’ potential than continue patchwork solutions on the flanks. If the scouting checks out, there’s no reason to hesitate.