Arsenal have long been establishing themselves as a club that are not content to sit in the middle of the pack. Mikel Arteta and Berta know that keeping their squad fresh, competitive and motivated is key to sustaining the pace of the Premier League. The right wing, with Bukayo Saka as the standard-bearer, has become an area that works, but also places a physical and mental burden on the young Englishman.
The fans are demanding alternatives, the opponents are pressing, and the games are multiplying when it comes to the decisive phases. That’s why looking at the market with intelligence and audacity can make all the difference in the coming campaign.
Arsenal have identified 23-year-old winger from France as their target
According to L’Equipe, the Londoners have set their sights on Maghnes Akliouche. The 23-year-old Frenchman is coming off the back of an outstanding season with Monaco, where he scored seven goals and added 12 assists. He played most of the matches on the right flank, demonstrating his ability to get forward, his goalscoring prowess and his seductive creativity.
His agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, is also working with Viktor Gyokeres, another Gunners target. Monaco’s asking price is around 60 million pounds, a figure that shows that it will not be an easy operation. Some are already comparing Akliouche to the likes of Thierry Henry and Kylian Mbappé, although the pressure of those parallels often weighs heavily.
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The big question, however, is whether it is worth spending that amount for a luxury understudy to Saka. The level Akliouche showed suggests he can be much more than just a replacement. His ability to break lines, assist and step into the box would allow him to alter deadlocked games or provide freshness at key moments.
In addition, with a busy schedule, Arteta needs profiles that do not drop when the starter is rested. Few players offer that combination of youth, potential and proven performance in a league like the French, where the pace is not so different from the English. However, spending 60 million on a substitute requires the certainty that he will get minutes and grow without slowing down Saka’s development.
Tactically, having Akliouche offers variations. He can play on the right flank, but he can also play on the inside or change flanks if the plan requires it. With opponents who tend to close spaces, the threat of a left- or right-footed player who knows how to move between the lines can open up unexpected avenues.
What’s next?
Moreover, the direct competition means that Saka will not relax. Recent history shows that when a player does not feel internal pressure, his level can stagnate. Henry and Mbappé also started out as promising players. Comparing them is no guarantee of anything, but it is exciting to see that Arsenal are looking at talent hungry to grow.
Investing heavily in a profile like Akliouche means betting on the future. If he turns out to be half of what his football suggests, he will more than pay for himself. The club needs quality replacements and a dressing room free of the comfortable. The Premier League is unforgiving of a lack of depth.
If Arsenal really want to compete for the league and progress in Europe, eleven first-team players are not enough. Akliouche could become the ideal partner for Saka, forcing him to demand more of himself and giving him rest without letting his guard down. It is not an unnecessary luxury, it is a statement of intent: to be great is to sign well. If the Frenchman wants to make his mark, London could be the best showcase.
