According to a recent report by Football.London, Arsenal will miss out on signing Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha during the summer transfer period. The same source has revealed that the Eagles are demanding at least £80m for their prized asset which the Gunners won’t be able to afford as they have missed out on Champions League football for next season.
The 4-1 defeat against Chelsea in the UEFA Europa League final earlier this week extinguished all hopes of a potential transfer to bring Zaha to the Emirates Stadium in this offseason.
Zaha’s Brilliant Season In The Premier League
The 26-year-old has enjoyed another spectacular season under Hodgson’s stewardship at Selhurst Park after putting in a series of goal-scoring performances for them during the recently concluded English top-flight campaign. Zaha has made 36 appearances for Palace this term, registering ten goals while creating ten assists in multiple competitions.
The Abidjan born speedster has secured nine international caps for Ivory Coast and has found the back of the net twice for his country thus far. Perhaps Zaha’s biggest strength is his versatility to operate in multiple positions in the opposition half. He primarily plays as a right-sided winger but is equally comfortable when told to fill in on the left flank or play as a central striker up front.
What Does The Ivory Coast Forward Offer On The Pitch?
Zaha is one of the quickest players in the top tier of England as he has blistering pace, which helps him make some well-timed runs behind the opposition backline. He is a tireless worker on the pitch and is not afraid to run the channels when his teammates are looking to pick out a forward pass. The former Manchester United prospect has the vision to make a killer pass in the final third and is also a proven finisher in front of the opposing goal.
Missing out on Zaha: Massive Blow For Emery?
However, one can argue whether Zaha is good enough to prove his worth at the highest level. Even then, there is no doubt that Unai Emery’s side would have greatly benefited if they could have acquired the Palace frontman ahead of the new season.
Arsenal are in dire need to bring in some quality players in the summer window, but they lack the financial resources to compete with the bigger clubs for the right to acquire their transfer targets. Thus, missing out on Zaha and more importantly, Champions League football could be a hammer blow which could derail Emery’s long-term project at the North London club.
