Arsenal made contact with Martinelli 2.0 on the “dangerous” 5ft 11 gem

Arsenal are just two games away from winning their first Premier League title since 2003/04.

Of course, they are counting on Manchester City to slip up as the Gunners will be praying that Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur or West Ham United do them a favour.

Whatever happens, Mikel Arteta has built a team that could continue to dominate English football for the next few years, especially if they can add another quality signing or two in the summer transfer window.

Is the Spaniard eyeing his first signing yet? With the club reportedly set to pursue one of the continent's top talents…

Arsenal transfer news

According to GIVEMESPORT sources, Arsenal have made contact with representatives of Athletic Club midfielder Nico Williams as they look to determine whether he would be interested in a move to London this summer.

The youngster has a release clause of £43m and this is a figure that will be within Arteta's summer budget, especially as he looks set to sell several first-team players.

Premier League side Chelsea will provide tough competition, however, as Mauricio Pochettino aims to strengthen his own, but surely the lure of Champions League football will be a big factor in Williams' decision?

Although he already has some excellent options at his disposal, Arteta seems keen to add strength to his front three.

Nico Williams has been a standout for Athletic Club this season

The 21-year-old has enjoyed an excellent campaign both on a personal level and as part of the team. The midfielder starred for the Pamplona side as they ended their 40-year trophy drought by winning the Copa del Rey in April, beating Mallorca on penalties, with Williams grabbing the assist for their only goal of the game.

In all competitions, the Spaniard has scored seven goals while providing 16 assists, which is all the more impressive considering he has only featured 34 times this season.

It was in La Liga where he showed his strength. Among his teammates in Spain's top flight, Williams ranks third in goals and assists (14, tied with his brother Inaki), and also ranks third in shots on target per game (0.5), leading chances created (nine) and dribbles won per game each (2.9), which is impressive for the Spanish side.

His ability to beat defenders regularly while creating opportunities for his teammates is something that Arteta wants more of and Williams would be a perfect fit.

U23 scout Antonio Mango praised the teenager as “very dangerous” in 2022, and it's clear to see that he's gotten even better since then, attracting the attention of the Premier League in the process.

Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are first-choice players under Arteta. Williams is versatile enough to work either side with ease, although it has been on the left where the 21-year-old has played most of his football this season.

Not only would the 42-year-old sign a player who could improve the XI immediately, but he would bring in a player like Martinelli.

How do you compare Nico Williams to Gabriel Martinelli

The Brazilian has been a mainstay on the left wing since arriving in north London back in the summer of 2019 for a fee reported to be around £6m, which turned out to be a huge sum.

Since then, he has made 172 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 41 goals while grabbing 24 assists, one of Arteta's most attacking threats in recent years.

According to FBref, Martinelli is currently the tenth player compared to Williams in Europe's top five leagues. Given how good the 22-year-old has been during his time at Arsenal so far, signing a player who can play like him should work well.

Indeed, the two registered the same domestic statistics this season in terms of goals and assists (14 vs 1), shots per 90 (2.05 vs 2.6), actions to create shots per 90 (5.07 vs 3.97), crosses delivered (144 vs 101). ) and touches in the penalty area (132 vs 180) which shows how similar they are statistically in their teams this season.

According to WhoScored, both Martinelli and Williams can count athleticism as a major strength. While the Brazilian likes to cut inside regularly, the Athletic Club defender prefers to drive and cross regularly, showing that the pair have slightly different playing styles.

At £43m, Arteta must be tempted to make the move a reality, especially if he aims to win trophies next season.

How much money does Nico Williams earn at Athletic Club

The 21-year-old currently earns £172k-a-week at the Spanish club, and is likely to seek a pay rise if he moves to London.

To put this salary against Arsenal's squad, he currently earns more than Ben White (£150k-a-week), who has impressed of late for the Gunners during their title bid.

With Champions League football set to return next season, finances are in order, which would allow Arteta to attract the best players to the club by offering them a solid salary.

Williams has enjoyed a quick start to his professional career, acclimatised to his team while playing 13 games for his country – injured at the World Cup – and his form will continue to improve.

Although Arsenal have the best attacking record in the top flight, Arteta is looking to improve and move with the times. Signing Williams this summer would give him another player to showcase his skills in the Premier League, and could be the difference between finishing second or winning the league.