Arsenal Register Shock Interest In Atletico Madrid Star: A Shrewd Target For Arteta?

According to Fichajes, Arsenal are interested in Matheus Cunha. The Gunners are reportedly keen on shoring up their offensive options in the upcoming January transfer window, with the Atletico Madrid star emerging as a potential target. They are set to face competition in the pursuit of Cunha, though, while the player himself is valued in excess of €30 million.

Matheus Cunha’s Struggles At Atletico Madrid

Matheus Cunha joined Atletico Madrid in the summer, for a fee of €26 million. He was brought in to add more competition in Diego Simeone’s attacking unit, having performed brilliantly during his previous stint at Hertha Berlin.

Unfortunately for the Brazilian, Atletico also ended up acquiring the services of Antoine Griezmann on deadline day while Rodrigo de Paul was brought in from Udinese earlier in the summer. Quite predictably, it has made life difficult for Cunha, who has fallen behind in the pecking order at Atleti this season.

Two months into the new season, the former Leipzig starlet has mustered only 96 minutes of league football at his new club, failing to amass even a single start. He is trailing the likes of Thomas Lemar, de Paul and Griezmann and it won’t be surprising to see him consider an early exit from Wanda Metropolitano.

Atletico Madrid themselves might be open to sanctioning the sale of Cunha, knowing the attacker doesn’t have any future at the club. The player does have a contract until 2026 as well, giving Los Colchoneros the opportunity to recoup the value they had spent in the summer.

Should Arsenal Invest In Cunha?

Arsenal‘s pursuit of Matheus Cunha is not a surprise at all, as the club does require attacking reinforcements in the upcoming January transfer window. The Gunners have done well to recover after a poor start to the campaign, but they have found it difficult to create chances consistently.

That is where Cunha could prove to be a useful addition to the team. The Brazilian can provide the much-needed competition in the final third, with his versatility, in particular, likely to be a massive asset for Mikel Arteta.

Indeed, Cunha is primarily a number ten. But he can operate out wide and even as a central striker, which makes him an alternative not only for Martin Odegaard or Nicolas Pepe but also for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Moreover, the Brazilian international can offer trickery and dynamism in the final third, always asking questions to the opposition defences. It could be extremely useful, especially given how players like Raheem Sterling and Raphinha have been successful in the Premier League, effectively meaning Cunha could be a shrewd option for Arsenal this January.