Pedro Neto ticks all the boxes for Arsenal
Robin Bairner
- 22 Aug 2022 11:27 BST
- 3 min read
Arsenal have made Wolves winger Pedro Neto their leading target before the end of the summer transfer window on 1 September.
Mikel Arteta has been looking for offensive reinforcements throughout the summer, and having added Gabriel Jesus and youngster Marquinhos to their ranks, the Spaniard is seeking a third addition.
The Athletic has reported that Pedro Neto could be that player, having regained full fitness following a knee injury that saw him miss two-thirds of the 2021/22 campaign.
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Neto, who previously turned out for Braga and Lazio, has started each of Wolves’ three matches this season, and by FootballTransfers’ valuation is worth €18 million. However, this is off the back of his injury issues, with the 22-year-old having been estimated to be worth as much as €33m previously.
Neto checks all the boxes of the type of player Arsenal are targeting in the transfer market. He is young, has tremendous potential, boasts Premier League experience and, of course, possesses the type of quality that can improve the first-team squad.
On top of this, versatility has been another key attribute that Arteta has sought in his players this summer. Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko and midfielder Fabio Vieira all embody this as they are capable of excelling in multiple roles. Neto shares this attribute as he can feature on either wing.
Not back to his best... yet
If Neto has returned to fitness, he has not yet regained his peak level of sharpness. Following his injury, he has just a goal and an assist to his credit – although it should be pointed out that these came against Liverpool and Manchester City respectively. It has not helped, of course, that he has been playing in for a Wolves side in the midst of a slump.
Prior to that, though, he was electric. In 2020/21, he scored five goals and created six more, establishing himself as one of the most exciting young players in the league.
Arsenal will, of course, do their due diligence on Pedro Neto’s knee, and if they are happy with its strength, they will be banking on the player getting back to that type of level. If he can, they will have made another superb capture in what is shaping up to be a very exciting summer.
