Leroy Sane is Arsenal's best alternative to Nico Williams

Arsenal need a winger and Nico Williams is the best option, but even the best laid plans can go awry when a transfer window reaches its fever pitch. Fortunately, Mikel Arteta can help the Gunners secure the next best thing to Williams, Bayern Munich and former Manchester City forward Leroy Sane.

A reunion between Arteta and Sane almost makes too much sense. And not just because Barcelona are sniffing around Williams.

The latter remains the optimum choice for expanding the possibilities for Arsenal's attack, but Sane would be more than a mere consolation prize. Not least because of his time working with Arteta during their days at Manchester City.

Arteta confirmed his star was on the rise in the coaching fraternity (not to mention within media adoration circles) via his work with wide players like Sane. The latter still loves himself some Arteta based on this glowing endorsement before Bayern visited the Emirates Stadium in the UEFA Champions League last season:

"It was great. I was pleased to work with him because he actually really helped me at City. We had a lot of individual talks about how I can improve, strengths, my weaknesses, we worked a lot. I made huge improvements under him, he gave that to me. I still keep that in my mind and put that in my game – positioning, how to behave in certain positions. I’m thankful"

- The Daily Mirror's Kieran King

An obvious rapport between Sane and Arteta makes the Arsenal gaffer the ideal candidate to finally unlock the full potential of a gifted player who's often promised more than he's delivered.

Leroy Sane still has room to grow

It feels odd to say this (type, whatever) about a 28-year-old fully-fledged Germany international with a trophy-laden CV, but Sane has more to offer. He's blessed with awe-inspiring acceleration, above-average close control and a keen eye for goal.

Those traits helped Sane play his part for City's 2017/18 'Centurions.' He was still a key member of the sequel, a team that claimed a historic domestic treble, essentially by swapping two league points for an extra trophy, the FA Cup.

A tidy haul of 20 goals and 25 assists in the Premier League across this time showed Sane had substance behind the style, but he never hit the other-worldly heights he should have.

That's confusing when Sane can produce moments of brilliance like this in the blink of an eye against the Kings of the continent.

The harsh truth is Sane's a talented player, but a sloppy one. He needs the relentless cajoling and micro-management Arteta has practically turned into a leadership brand.

Arteta knows how to keep Sane focused and get the best from him. That knowledge, combined with Sane already being fully aware of the pace and physical rigours of England's top flight, practically makes this transfer a no-brainer.

More than a few transfer scribes have already connected those dots. Among them, FourFourTwo's Mark White and Tom Canton of Football.London think this is the obvious move.

Signing Sane wouldn't generate the same buzz as unveiling the precocious Williams at Emirates Stadium, but Arteta would get a Premier League-tested established commodity. Arsenal's last signing out wide, Leandro Trossard, ticked those boxes and then some.

Sane would exceed Trossard's clutch contributions and give Arsenal an ideal bookend for Bukayo Saka, while also (hopefully) prompting more creative use of Gabriel Martinelli. All for cheaper than the likely cost for Williams, since Sane is out of contract next summer.

If Arteta doesn't want to tussle with Barca and PSG in the mega-bucks melee for Williams, the Arsenal chief should turn to Sane and go with who he knows.

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