Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal: 8 Emi Buendia alternative transfer targets

By Ross Kennerley

Stuttgart's Japanese midfielder Wataru Endo (R) is chased by Leipzig's French midfielder Christopher Nkunku (C) and Leipzig's Spanish midfielder Dani Olmo (L) during the German first division Bundesliga football match between RB Leipzig and VfB Stuttgart in Leipzig, eastern Germany, on April 25, 2021. - DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / various sources / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images)
Stuttgart's Japanese midfielder Wataru Endo (R) is chased by Leipzig's French midfielder Christopher Nkunku (C) and Leipzig's Spanish midfielder Dani Olmo (L) during the German first division Bundesliga football match between RB Leipzig and VfB Stuttgart in Leipzig, eastern Germany, on April 25, 2021. - DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / various sources / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Matheus Pereira
WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND – APRIL 12: Matheus Pereira of West Bromwich Albion during the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Southampton. (Photo by Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images) /

Matheus Pereira – West Brom

No! Never! Arsenal can’t be plucking players from relegated teams or those in the lower leagues! Where is the ambition!

After just seeing a £30m+ bid for Buendia fall through for someone just coming out of the Championship, Matheus Pereira is a name that shouldn’t be entirely discounted. There was precious little for West Brom fans to enjoy upon their return to the Premier League aside from their Brazilian forward, who stuck out like a sore thumb in an otherwise torrid side.

A lovely blend of finesse and power, Pereira has dragged the Baggies through the season almost single-handedly. Scoring only 35 goals all season, the recently turned 25-year-old had a direct hand in 48.5% of them. 11 goals and six assists is an excellent return for someone in their first season of Premier League football in a poor side.

There is eye-catching skill in what he does. Left-footed, his drag backs and flicks are neat and tidy – he averages 0.32 nutmegs per game(!) – while his delivery both from standstill and on the move is delicate. In a side without any prolific strikers, his 1.99 key passes is commendable as so often laborious movement cuts off meaningful avenues to create.

With West Brom being relegated he will be available on the cheap (£15m-£20m), making him an exciting option at a good age. With so much of his work being centrally with wide receiving and half-space movement, he does fit the bill of a Buendia alternative.

Is he exactly the addition to come in and lift the bar considerably? It’s a tough one to call after a season spent in a side lacking attacking output, but in any case a Premier League move beckons.

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