Rodrygo to Arsenal transfer message sent as Mikel Arteta right to prioritise £52m switch

 The acquisition of Noni Madueke has arguably triggered the most significant online reaction to an Arsenal transfer in recent times, with everyone and their dog having a say.

Opinions spanned from sensible to downright absurd, and regrettably, some crossed boundaries that social media platforms need to do more to tackle – though we're not holding our breath. Stripping it back, the main bone of contention about the move is the hefty price tag for a 23-year-old player from a London rival, Chelsea, who's seen as a backup and competitor for star man Bukayo Saka.

The Gunners are using the summer window to bolster and upgrade across the board, aiming to boost their chances of bagging some silverware next season. Under Mikel Arteta, transfer windows have typically been a time for reflection, looking back at the previous season's shortcomings and responding accordingly in the market. Saka's injury was the final blow to the already faltering title push during the 2024/25 season.

Youngster Ethan Nwaneri, just 17, was brought into the fray but soon fell victim to injury himself, likely due to the strain of senior-level play in a position not considered his forte.

Arteta was eager to bring in another player, and when Bryan Mbeumo made it clear he wasn't up for competing with Saka and favoured being a guaranteed starter elsewhere, the focus shifted to Madueke.

There have been other areas of concern, notably up front with Viktor Gyokeres. However, the left flank has also been a hot topic, perhaps more so among fans than the club's actual transfer plans, reports Football London.

Names like Rodrygo and Eberechi Eze are being bandied about, with the latter reportedly high on the wish list for a late window swoop and capable of slotting into various positions, including left wing. While Rodrygo's exit from Real Madrid isn't set in stone, any move would likely come with a hefty price tag.

It's believed that Arsenal would need to offload some players before they can splash out again having already loosened the purse strings significantly. The notion that pursuing Madueke has hindered the Gunners' chances of landing Eze or Rodrygo doesn't quite tally.

Arsenal entered this window with just one natural right winger, Saka, one fit quasi-centre-forward in Kai Havertz but with two left wingers in Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard. Although there's a chance one of the latter pair could be on their way out, no deals have been inked as yet despite interest.

The idea that Arsenal would bring in a third left-sided player before securing the services of two central or right-sided players doesn't make sense. It's not the savviest approach to squad building.

Arsenal could still snap up Eze and/or Rodrygo, potentially marking one of the most impressive summer transfer windows ever. However, with their current dealings and imminent moves, they've already laid a solid foundation for the upcoming season.

The final stretch of the summer, though, could be the deciding factor between lifting the title or settling for runners-up once more.