Should Arsenal trust Rodrygo to outshine Martinelli and Trossard’s inconsistency with a bumper contract?
Arsenal are once again looking ambitiously at the market. Mikel Arteta and Berta are looking for a key player to freshen up their attacking front. Last season left mixed feelings on the wing. Bukayo Saka sustained the team at times, but the dependence on his fitness and performance became evident. Neither Gabriel Martinelli nor Leandro Trossard offered consistent guarantees.
The club knows that they need an attacker who not only complements Saka, but can also take responsibility in decisive matches. And that is where Rodrygo Goes comes in, a well-known figure with proven talent and experience at the highest European level.
According to Graeme Bailey of TBR Football, Arsenal have their sights set on Rodrygo. The 24-year-old Brazilian, who has been with Real Madrid since 2019, could be on his way out this summer. The starting price would be around £100m, although Madrid would be willing to negotiate for a figure closer to £70m.
What is interesting is that Andrea Berta, a key figure in the London offices, is prepared to offer him a very juicy contract, possibly on a par with what Saka is already on, in order to convince him to move to the Emirates.
Rodrygo has shown that he does not need consistent minutes to make a difference. In just over 250 appearances for Real Madrid, he has scored 68 goals and dished out 51 assists. These are not stratospheric figures, but they are consistent, especially considering his often secondary role in a team full of stars. Despite that shadow, he has responded on big nights, especially in the Champions League. His exit does not seem out of the question, especially after high-profile signings continue to push youngsters to the bench in Madrid.
Opinion:
Spending 100 million for Rodrygo may sound crazy to some, especially if he arrives with the tag of ‘relieving’ Saka. But if you pay 70, it changes the conversation. This is not a signing to rotate in cup games, but a player who can change the attacking formation.
Rodrygo can play on both flanks, inside if needed, and offers something that neither Martinelli nor Trossard have been able to sustain: decision-making under pressure. If Arteta really wants to fight for the Premiership and come back to intimidate in Europe, he needs real depth. And Rodrygo, though young, has more European experience than most of the squad.
What he needs clarity on is his role. If Arsenal plan to use him as an alternative to rest Saka, then paying even 70 million is unnecessary. But if the aim is to build a trident that allows flexibility, positional interchange and more goals from the flanks, then he is worth every pound. In that context, Rodrygo is not coming in to take anyone’s place, but to improve the system. And a high contract is understandable if the club sees him as a starter from day one.
If Arsenal manage to close the deal at around 70 million and secure the Brazilian with motivation and guaranteed minutes, it would not be an exaggeration to say that they become a serious title contender. Rodrygo is not a luxury; he is an investment in ambition.
