Bradley Barcola would be a “huge upgrade” on Gabriel Martinelli for Arsenal amid talk of a summer transfer, according to European football expert Andy Brassell. Speaking to talkSPORT, Brassell believes the Paris Saint-Germain forward would be the perfect signing for the Premier League champions this summer, potentially ending Mikel Arteta's seven-year drought of signing French players.
Arsenal's French Connection and Arteta's Transfer History
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has not signed a single French player since taking charge in December 2019. The last French player to join the Arsenal senior team was William Saliba in the summer of 2019, marking a seven-year dry spell. Under Arsène Wenger, the club famously signed French legends such as Nicolas Anelka, Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, Samir Nasri, Laurent Koscielny, William Gallas, and Patrick Vieira. Matteo Guendouzi arrived during Unai Emery's brief tenure, but Arteta has yet to tap into that market.
Barcola's Profile and Potential Impact
Barcola, 23, still has two years left on his PSG contract, but reports in France claim the European champions would be open to a summer sale if talks over a new deal do not progress positively. Brassell argued that Barcola is exactly the type of player Arsenal should target: “Arsenal, I think, are still in the best place when they get players and they improve them. They take players who are already As or A-minuses and transform them into elite superstars. And I feel that's what they can probably do with Bradley Barcola.”
Brassell highlighted Barcola's intelligence: “With Barcola, it's not just about recruiting him and hoping he scores 15, 20, 25 [goals] in a season, although I do think he could get to that point for Arsenal. It's that he's someone who knows when to release the ball at the right time. So, he's got the pace, but he's also got the intelligence to make the most of the advantage that that pace gives him.”
Comparison with Gabriel Martinelli
Brassell was unequivocal in his assessment: “He would be a huge upgrade on Gabriel Martinelli as far as I'm concerned. As far as the signings that Arsenal should be making this summer, he's definitely, definitely a step in the right direction, especially with his contract talks still up in the air.”
Arsenal are also linked with Morgan Rogers, Julian Alvarez, and Christos Tzolis, but Barcola appears to be a priority target. With his pace, intelligence, and potential, the French winger could provide the attacking boost Arteta needs to close the gap on Manchester City.
