Arsenal: Is Emi Buendia really worth £40m?

Can Arsenal Put a Price on Emi Buendia’s Goals?

Incredibly oversimplified, if Arsenal scored more goals last season they would be in a Europe next term. That of course doesn’t factor in the style of the team, Arteta’s approach and nor does it mean putting someone in with an eye for goal would have solved the problem. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was supposed to score goals. He didn’t.

Buendia will not fix Arsenal. If he arrives for £40m it will not result in an automatic top four berth. The issues lie across the team.

His arrival has the potential to significantly help them, though. A lack of goals throughout the side has hamstrung the campaign and if looking at Martin Odegaard, for example, who Real Madrid are wanting £50m for, you know who you’d rather have in your team to boost your chances of hitting the back of the net. He’s someone who can make a mountain out of a molehill (in a positive sense, of course).

Without any European football in 2021/22, players who can operate in different positions become increasingly valuable. Arsenal can trim their squad down to a smaller size than it was and focus on players such as Buendia, Bukayo Saka and Calum Chambers who can be shifted around the pitch. Sales will outweigh arrivals.

In the current market, he’s overpriced. Based on where Arsenal are and what needs they need tending to, they haven’t got a choice. This much is clear. It’s a hefty outlay for a club in financial disarray but an outlay they have to take nonetheless.

Buendia is a special, special talent. How he didn’t leave Norwich last summer is bewildering.

Arsenal will continue to tip-toe their way around what the Canaries want and gradually up their bid until they absolutely overstayed their welcome, before caving in and stumping up the money. Overpriced? Sadly. Could it impact spending elsewhere? Possibly. Should they drop out of the chase? Certainly not. No time for messing around, just get it done.