Premier League giants Arsenal could be an ideal destination for PSV Eindhoven winger and Bayern Munich target Cody Gakpo, former Eredivisie ace Kenneth Perez tells ESPN.
Well, at least the Gunners have learned from their mistakes. Expensive mistakes, at that.
The decision to hand 32-year-old Willian a three-year deal worth around £200,000-a-week seemed odd at the time, given the winger’s advancing years and creaking bones.
When you consider that his eye-watering contract was torn up after just one highly underwhelming season in North London, it’s fair to say things didn’t exactly go to plan.
But how does the saying go? ‘Remember that life’s greatest lessons are usually learned from the worst mistakes’? Something like that, anyway.
When you consider that every one of Arsenal’s six signings during the summer of 2021 are aged 23 and under, the days of overpaid, over-the-hill veterans on the lookout for one last pay day appear to be over. And not a moment too soon.
Is Cody Gakpo heading to Arsenal?
22-year-old Cody Gakpo is very much a modern-day Arsenal signing. Young, hungry, highly-talented and perfectly suited to Arteta’s style of play.
The Dutch international has 16 goals and 15 assists to his name this term too. And, assuming he adapts to life on British soil better than former PSV stars Steven Bergwijn and Memphis Depay, the prospect of Gakpo linking up with Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard is simply mouth-watering.
“(Arsenal) would be a really good club for him,” says former Ajax and PSV midfielder Perez.
The 24-time Denmark international admits that this is ‘no longer the Arsenal of the past’. No longer an Arsenal side capable of dominating the English football landscape.
But that, Perez thinks, could actually be a help, rather than a hindrance, as far as Gakpo is concerned..
Arsenal, he says, would be a more sensible next step for Gakpo than a European powerhouse like Bayern Munich.
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“A club like Bayern Munich wants you to grow a lot,” Perez adds. “You won’t do that in the Eredivisie. That’s why the step up is often so difficult.
“And that’s why Arsenal (may be a better choice).”
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