5<\/p>\n Arsenal cruised to a 3-0 win over Real Madrid this weekCredit: Getty 5<\/p>\n Arda Guler, who did not play, has been linked with a move to the EmiratesCredit: Getty<\/p>\n On the opposite bench, another young starlet – 20-year-old Arda Guler<\/a> – enjoyed the spectacle in a watching capacity having also shone brightly out in Spain, and is now being linked to Arsenal<\/a>, as well as other big clubs in Europe.<\/p>\n Having joined Madrid from boyhood club Fenerbahce<\/a> in July 2023 for an initial \u00a317.2m, the Turk\u2019s debut campaign was hampered by injuries, making only 12 appearances in all competitions.<\/p>\n Yet he still managed six goals in 10 La Liga<\/a> appearances and 330 minutes of playing time, becoming the fastest player in Madrid history to hit that tally.<\/p>\n More game time has followed this term with 34 appearances in all competitions so far, but just 10 of these have been starts, including 56 minutes of a 2-0 Champions League defeat away at Liverpool<\/a> in November.<\/p>\n There is the feeling in Spain that Guler – way down the pecking order behind the likes of Jude Bellingham<\/a>, Eduardo Camavinga<\/a>, Federico Valverde<\/a> and 39-year-old Luka Modric<\/a> – may need to leave the Bernabeu to reach his full potential, similar to the Martin Odegaard<\/a> situation before his \u00a330m switch to Arsenal<\/a> in the summer of 2021.<\/p>\n Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti<\/a> struggled to integrate Odegaard into his Galactico squad upon his January 2015 arrival as a 16-year-old, and is having similar issues with Guler.<\/p>\n Paul Clement – Ancelotti\u2019s former assistant who remains in contact with the Italian – confirmed this to SunSport last week: Guler needs more game time than he is currently getting, something the Madrid coaching staff recognise.<\/p>\n The question is: do Arsenal actually need Guler with 18-year-old Nwaneri now an established first-team player with 14 starts in all competitions this season?<\/p>\n Guler has featured mostly as an attacking midfielder, but also pops up on the right, just like Nwaneri. But how do the two compare?<\/p>\n Guler has 1,171 minutes under his belt this year, averaging 34 minutes per game. Nwaneri is similar with 1,199 minutes and averaging 39 minutes.<\/p>\n ‘Give me your right foot please’ – Crocked Arsenal star issues plea to Declan Rice in dressing room after stunning goals<\/p>\n In terms of touches per 90 minutes, Guler has 77 and Nwaneri has 58. The Turkish international has 14 shots on target from 39 attempts. England<\/a> U21 star Nwaneri has 18 shots on target from 38 attempts.<\/p>\n There is nothing between them for goal involvements too – Guler has nine [three goals and six assists] and Nwaneri has 10 [eight goals and two assists].<\/p>\n Guler would cost between \u00a330m and \u00a340m at least should anyone come calling, but it appears not to make too much sense with a younger Nwaneri living up to his potential and capturing the hearts of Arsenal fans as a Hale End product.<\/p>\n Mikel Arteta<\/a> will be prioritising an elite striker this summer, with Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi<\/a> already lined up and the defence needing bolstering too.<\/p>\n Guler is a massive talent ready to explode, in the Odegaard mould, but Arteta will be wary of stifling what he already has on the books.<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n How the two compare – domestic league matches onlyNWANERI CONTRACT TALKS?<\/p>\n Speaking of Nwaneri, he is one of several players Arteta and new sporting director Andrea Berta<\/a> are desperate to tie down to long-term contracts in the coming months.<\/p>\n Talks will begin soon, with Nwaneri\u2019s current deal – his first professional contract signed in March 2024 – expiring at the end of next season, along with fellow academy star Myles Lewis-Skelly<\/a>, who put pen to paper in October 2023.<\/p>\n SunSport understands Nwaneri is in line for a competitive salary raise, in line with a regular squad player and first-team option.<\/p>\n However, with Arsenal\u2019s wage bill increasing by nearly \u00a3100m in their 2023\/24 financial accounts – from \u00a3234.8m to \u00a3327.8m – the club will be wary over giving an astronomical wage packet to a teenager, regardless of his talent and potential.<\/p>\n Arsenal will also need to fork out for extensions on major first-team stars like Bukayo Saka<\/a>, William Saliba<\/a> and Gabriel<\/a> this summer.<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n Ethan Nwaneri is in talks to sign a new dealCredit: Getty<\/p>\n However, boss Mikel Arteta often asks for wage negotiations or announcements to be delayed until after big months of the season, especially if they progress into the semi-finals of the Champions League<\/a>.<\/p>\n It is why Arteta has been tight-lipped over the futures of midfielders Thomas Partey<\/a> and Jorginho<\/a>, whose deals run out in a few months.<\/p>\n ARSENAL\u2019S SURPRISE FAN CLUB<\/p>\n The quality of action on show in the Premier League<\/a> has been a hot topic, with Gary Neville<\/a> pouring oil over the fire this week in a passionate rant.<\/p>\n On the Stick To Football podcast, he raged: \u201cIf we\u2019re constantly served up this crap where we are watching centre-backs, full-backs and goalkeepers touch the ball hundreds of times more than the most talented players on the pitch.<\/p>\n \u201cThat isn\u2019t right \u2013 the game can\u2019t be evolving in the right way.\u201d<\/p>\n SunSport understands that directors from Arsenal\u2019s Prem rivals are hoping the Gunners can change this perception with a strong run in the Champions League.<\/p>\n Should Mikel Arteta\u2019s men see off Real Madrid next week in a similarly stunning and entertaining fashion, before beating Paris Saint-Germain<\/a> in the semis and Barcelona<\/a> in the final, there is a feeling that this would reinvigorate the Prem and show what English clubs are capable of.<\/p>\n RICE\u2019S FREE-KICKS WERE COMING\u2026<\/p>\n Declan Rice\u2019s free-kick double act against Madrid<\/a> sent the Emirates – and social media – into meltdown.<\/p>\n They were his first in senior football in over 400 matches, with many asking the same question: Why has he not been taking free-kicks before?<\/p>\n After all, set-piece coach Nicolas Jover has had him on corner-taking duties because of his incredible delivery and the amount of whip he can get on a ball ever since he honed Rice’s talent on a mid-season trip to Dubai.<\/p>\n The answer is: He has, but has not found the top corner until now.<\/p>\n This season in the Prem, he had one poor effort deflected by the wall behind for a corner in the 1-0 win over Chelsea<\/a> last month before smacking one straight at Jordan Pickford<\/a> in their 1-1 draw away at Everton<\/a> last weekend.<\/p>\n Last season, in April 2024, he had another tame approach blocked at Wolves<\/a>, with another in the March comfortably saved in the 6-0 win at Sheffield United<\/a> and another hitting the wall in a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa<\/a> in December 2023.<\/p>\n Even at West Ham<\/a> he was getting his eye in – blasting one well over the bar in the 2021\/22 season away at Tottenham and another low drive saved at Aston Villa.<\/p>\n His last attempt in Europe appears to be in the 21\/22 Europa League, seeing a long-range flier blocked in a 2-0 win away at Dinamo Zagreb.<\/p>\n In total, Rice had taken 12 free-kicks before scoring twice past Thibaut Courtois<\/a>, none of which came close.<\/p>\n This is not just a Rice problem however, more an Arsenal problem, scoring just ONE of their last 64 dead-ball attempts before facing Madrid, one of the worst records in the Prem.<\/p>\n In that time, Manchester City<\/a> have scored 10, Chelsea<\/a> have scored seven, Newcastle United<\/a> have scored five and five other Premier League teams have scored four.<\/p>\n![\"Mikel](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/mikel-merino-celebrates-scoring-3rd-985797317_3c44ae.jpg\")
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