%20rotate(-8.06)%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22336.19%20136.81%20330.16%2094.25%20326.06%2071.19%20326.44%2071.13%20335.22%2093.54%20352.29%20134.52%20373.95%20131.46%20362.7%2052.01%20350.02%2053.8%20356.05%2096.36%20360.15%20119.42%20359.77%20119.48%20350.99%2097.08%20333.91%2056.09%20312.25%2059.15%20323.51%20138.6%20336.19%20136.81%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22402.91%2059.3%20412.36%20126.02%20427.17%20123.92%20417.72%2057.21%20431.59%2055.24%20429.79%2042.51%20387.23%2048.53%20389.04%2061.27%20402.91%2059.3%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22463.51%20118.77%20458.69%2084.71%20474.68%2082.44%20479.51%20116.5%20494.36%20114.4%20483.11%2034.95%20468.26%2037.06%20472.96%2070.25%20456.96%2072.52%20452.26%2039.32%20437.4%2041.43%20448.65%20120.88%20463.51%20118.77%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22540.5%20107.87%20538.77%2095.68%20518.91%2098.49%20515.77%2076.29%20535.63%2073.47%20533.93%2061.5%20514.07%2064.32%20511.11%2043.42%20530.98%2040.61%20529.25%2028.42%20494.53%2033.34%20505.78%20112.78%20540.5%20107.87%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22299.03%20155.17%20301.29%20171.58%20542.78%20138.39%20540.5%20121.97%20299.03%20155.17%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Arsenal Trying To Turn Transfer Tides On Real Madrid
By Josh Sippie
Arsenal has two stars that Real Madrid is hounding after but could it be Arsenal that steals two players from Real Madrid instead?
Real Madrid is renowned for getting just about every player they want. They have the deep coffers to spend whatever is needed and they have the history to appeal to any player out there. After all, Real Madrid and Barcelona have arguably the deepest pockets and the most renown of any football team in the world. What’s there not to like?
Related: 15 Arsenal Transfer Rumors To Follow
Meanwhile, Arsenal has spent the past decade selling all of their star players to whoever the highest bidder was. They were in the midst of paying off the Emirates and they were under the watchful eye of the most fiscally careful manager in the world – Arsene Wenger. Despite their deep history, Arsenal has not won a Premier League title since 2004.
More from Pain in the Arsenal
- 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
- 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
- 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
- Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
- 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
By those two, short descriptions, transfers seem to be a one-way street. Arsenal should be shipping players to Real Madrid all day, every day. But that is not necessarily the case.
Currently, both teams are after two players from the other team. But it is Arsenal’s pursuits that appear the most likely to succeed when comparing the two.
Real Madrid is shooting for the stars. According to various reports, they are looking to bring Mesut Ozil back and nab Alexis Sanchez in the process. The two could feasibly cost a combined £80-90 million. That’s a lot even by Los Blancos’ standards.
Meanwhile, Arsenal is pursuing Isco and Jese. With half the names and half the combined cost, the Gunners could very well land at least one of these two targets. At least in a perfect world they would. Both play an attacking role, however, and may not be a top priority of Arsenal’s.
More from Arsenal Transfer Rumours
- Arsenal Transfers: Emile Smith Rowe could leave club before summer deadline
- Arsenal Transfers: Gabriel will not be leaving this summer
- Why Arsenal could sell Folarin Balogun to London rivals
- 5 defenders Arsenal could sign after Jurrien Timber injury
- Why was Kieran Tierney left out of Arsenal’s matchday squad?
As it stands, Arsenal is higher up in the Premier League than Real Madrid is in La Liga. Real Madrid was most recently shut out by Villareal and with Benzema’s legal problems, they are struggling. They sit five points behind Barcelona but their Catalan rivals appear so much deadlier.
Arsenal is pushing up the table, looking stronger than ever. They are overcoming injuries, they are moving on in the Champions League and they look a viable threat to compete across the board. Again, that is without Alexis, Francis Coquelin, Santi Cazorla and more.
Arsenal have the upper hand. They are pursuing two guys who are not being used enough for their own liking. These two guys are frequently passed up and not given the proper opportunity. That will never change at Real Madrid. Not as long as they have this spending tendency and this rich appeal.
On the other hand, Real Madrid is after Arsenal’s two key components. Not even Real Madrid’s glory can compare to the culture, the rise and the loyalty that Arsenal has been and is currently brewing.
Next: 20 Greatest Arsenal Goals Of Last 20 Years
It would be nice to turn the tides on a cash cow like Real Madrid for once. It would feel like a huge moral victory and a huge step forward. In order for Arsenal to compete with the giants of Europe, they are going to have to match them in the transfer market as well. They have to have the same draw as these top clubs. They can accomplish this task, it’s just a matter of flexing a little muscle.