Arsenal: Anthony Martial the ultimate crowning achievement

In all likelihood, Arsenal will never get anywhere near landing Anthony Martial. But if they were to manage this coup, call it a crowning achievement.

Arsenal’s shopping list this summer was pretty short from the start. It got much shorter when Sead Kolasinac was secured, covering arguably the one position that needed it the most, especially in the new system.

Other than that, we needed a striker – either a solid option or a complete overhaul – and, perhaps another creative attacker. You know, just in case Alexis Sanchez pulls a magic act and disappears.

If you could cross off both of those remaining needs, wouldn’t that be quite the bargain?

Anthony Martial completes both of those remaining needs. Since coming over from Monaco, Martial has not had the greatest time in the Premier League. Even in spite of how much Manchester United paid for him (and continue to pay).

But that doesn’t mean the talent has vacated. martial is incredibly talented and just needs the right set up to get back on track. United may not be as committed to him as Arsenal can be, with the huge opportunity they can give him to actually be the front man he has always wanted to be. He didn’t touch double digit goals or assists this past year and made the gross majority of his appearances wide left.

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Call it a two-for. Just like Danny Welbeck, Arsenal can let Martial have a fresh start up front while having the back up of giving him consistent appearances out wide if it doesn’t pan out.

Let me recap some of the positives we have going here. He can play both needed positions. He can get a fresh start. There is always going to be bragging rights if he pans out. And, a point I hinted at but hadn’t gotten to yet, it probably wouldn’t cost as much United paid for him in the first place. No doubt you can’t just trust market value, but according to transfermarkt, the former “next Thierry Henry” might not cost more than £40m.

That’s a nice chunk less than what United paid (and continue to pay) for him. Maybe we could foot some of the remaining bill that United may have to pay to Monaco.

Naturally, Martial is being ‘urged’ to ignore Arsenal interest. But the young Frenchman surely knows what Wenger is capable of. And if he wants to be the next Henry, the best possible recourse would be to follow in his footsteps and that sure as hell isn’t going to happen at United.

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It’s a long shot. Worse, even. But if Wenger can pull this off, it would be an amazing achievement that could resonate for years to come.

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