Arsenal: Bernard the Gelson Martins consolation prize

Arsenal may be slipping out of the Gelson Martins race, which makes Bernard a top target. Call it a consolation prize, if you must.

Arsenal have an inspiring attacking crop of players, but impossible to ignore how one-dimensional they are becoming. They are relying entirely on central midfield creativity, with their fullbacks/wingbacks providing all the width.

That’s a big ask from wide defenders, to defend at a top-tier level while also serving as wingers.

When you get down to crunch time and are clogged up in the middle and under a lot of pressure, you need to spread play out, and wingers are the best way to do that. As of right now, the Gunner shave zero true wingers on the books, and it has become a major summer need.

Gelson Martins was looking like the premier option. Initially, his price tag was way too high, but when he tore up his contract to become a free agent, the Gunners were in good shape.

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And then Lazio and Atletico Madrid came barking and all of a sudden, it became a matter of fending off the competition where once there seemed to be none. Martins has a bright future ahead of him, with pace and width galore, all of which speaks for itself when figuring out his viability.

But what makes him truly attractive, as unfortunate as it sounds, is that he is free. The talent is known, but to get that kind of talent for free? That couldn’t be more perfect for a team in Arsenal’s position, with a small transfer budget and not a lot to offer in terms of wages.

Cheap, alternative options have to be explored, and that is where Bernard fits into the picture. Also boasting pace, as well as the ability to call himself a true winger, Bernard has been at the books at Shakhtar Donetsk for five years and is currently a free agent.

In the head to head comparison, Martins wins out in every way. He’s younger, quicker, deadlier around the goal and just an all-around winging phenom.

Bernard is more of a rotational player with upside. He’s only 25, so he’s not old, but he doesn’t boast the same pedigree of Martins. That isn’t to say that he can’t yet blossom though.

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Consider him a consolation prize. He is still a prize, no doubt, even if solely because he’s a winger. But Martins is the true prize.

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