Former Premier League winger Shaun Wright-Phillips has said that it would be “massive for Arsenal” if they could sign Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo. 

The Gunners failed to sign anybody during the January transfer window, despite making a £60m bid for Aston Villa striker for Ollie Watkins, which was rejected.

Arsenal have been perennially linked with signing a striker, however, they were also linked to several wingers in January.

Bukayo Saka remains out injured with a hamstring issue, and he has missed significant time this season, leading many to believe that the Gunners might sign a winger in order to ease some pressure on the England international.

One name that they have been linked with is in-form Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo, who has scored 14 goals in 24 Premier League matches so far this season. He has also been linked with Manchester United in recent months.

Shaun Wright-Phillips believes it would be a massive signing if Arsenal could land him, but says it might be hard to tempt the Cameroonian to the Emirates.

He told GoonerNews via BetVictor: “I’m surprised nobody’s gone in for Mbeumo. I think if they got him, it would be massive for Arsenal in terms of squad depth, quality on the pitch and off the pitch but I think it would be a strange buy in terms of Saka’s position when most of the problems and rotation comes on the left.

“It’s a hard one because Arteta doesn’t really rest Saka anyway and I think, if Mbeumo moves, he wants to play more regularly also so that that will be a tricky one to make work.”

Wright-Phillips does however think that if Arsenal advertised the vacant striker position to Mbeumo, he could get more regular game time alongside Saka in Arteta’s XI: “He is the type of player that could most probably play up front and he does score goals.”

Who could Arsenal sign instead of Mbeumo?

The Gunners have also been linked to Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, who has a £48m release clause in his contract at the La Liga club. He would cost a similar price to Mbeumo who has been valued at around £50m by Brentford.

Williams also plays as a right-winger, but does switch to the left, and so he could play in Arteta’s XI with Saka, if the Arsenal boss didn’t want to rest the English winger.

Arsenal reportedly considered paying Williams’ £48m release clause during the January transfer window, but decided against the move. They could re-ignite their interest in the summer.