Petit warns Arsenal about a move for long-term target

Former Arsenal man, Emmanuel Petit, doesn’t believe it would be smart for the club to sign Wilfried Zaha this summer.

The Ivorian has been a target of the Gunners for a long time now and he could finally leave Crystal Palace in the next transfer window.

The Eagles are now ready to cash in on the 29-year-old who has been arguably their best player by a mile in the last few seasons.

Arsenal signed Nicolas Pepe instead of Zaha in 2019 and it makes sense for them to eventually get their man in the next transfer window, but Petit believes signing him will obstruct the development of Gabriel Martinelli.

He said via The Daily Mail: ‘Of course, he would fit in well at Arsenal. But my question would be, what do you do with Gabriel Martinelli? Martinelli has been very good since his injury and he’s following in the same footsteps of Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka.

‘This is the next generation of Arsenal players and if you brought in Zaha then he’d play regular football and Martinelli would be on the bench.

‘So I’m not quite sure about that. Arsenal need competition in their squad, for sure, but when you see the prospect of young players, you have to be very careful with the players you bring into the club.’

Just Arsenal Opinion

Zaha’s quality will help make us become the top club we have been working hard to be in the last few seasons.

However, Petit’s concern for Martinelli is a serious one because the Brazilian is becoming one of the key men at the club and he is undeniably talented.

He would struggle to compete with Zaha for a place now, but in a few years, he could be better than the Ivorian if he keeps getting game time.

Tags Emmanuel Petit wilfried zaha

9 Comments

  1. Zaha should always be on Arsenals radar. Many in here claim that this ship has long sailed, but IMO Zaha is a high quality attacker and would definitely strenghten Arsenals attacking options. He knows the PL, whereas most target players from outside the UK need time to adapt.

  2. Here is a deal worth exploring.

    A straight swap for Pepe, nothing else.

    Pepe striving under the Arsenal legend and Zaha ended up at his boyhood club, if ever a coach to get the best out of this frustrated youngster, maybe it’s the Arsenal legend with his experience from the French league.

    That would be a deal made in heaven where all parties delighted and live happily after.

  3. Would take Zaha over Pepe any day,
    His much more dangerous winger than Pepe and alot better dribbler,

  4. but you haven’t taken into account Zaha coming here and kicking on .
    If Pepe cannot get game time what makes you think Zaha would be any different .
    Arteta is not a manager who likes the flair players but someone who likes the industrial kind of player .
    A complete waste of a signing IMO .

  5. Dan Kit
    Are you saying Arteta wouldn’t want Zaha taking his A game along if he should comes and join Arsenal

    This should be a blue print for incoming new signing,
    1)Potential players should be fans of the club.
    2) Want to play for the club
    3) Respect and cherish the tradition and ideals of the club.

    School children in Ukraine bunkers knows, Zaha would make any team out side the top two better, think the gaffer would know that too, dont you think Dan?

    A do think Saka is a flare player, some would argue he is over use too.

  6. Arsenal blew it when they signed Pepe. Zaha is over the hill now, do not touch him. Hazard at 31 attacks like DeBruyne, he is a man among boys for 2 more years.

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