Arsenal could launch a late swoop for Yeremi Pino, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano...

What's the word?

The Italian journalist provided an update on the situation to GIVEMESPORT after the Gunners were linked with a move for the Villarreal winger in recent weeks.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he could be one of the names [for Arsenal] in the last few weeks of the transfer window because he is a really top player," he revealed.

"Many Premier League clubs are approaching his agents. He has English agents – Stellar – which is a strong group in the Premier League, so it’s normal to have these kinds of links and these kinds of approaches."

GOAL believe that the Yellow Submarines could agree to sell him for around €45m (£38m), despite having a release clause of €80m (£67m).

Better than Diaby

It's no secret that the north Londoners appear to be in the market for a new right winger, having missed out on Raphinha, who joined FC Barcelona from Leeds United.

Bayer Leverkusen star Moussa Diaby, 23,  is one name that has been heavily mooted with a switch to the Emirates but the Spanish teenager may well emerge as the better choice for technical director Edu Gaspar and his recruitment staff.

The 19-year-old gem, who has been dubbed a "special talent" by Romano, has enjoyed a breakthrough 12 to 18 months over at Villarreal. Last season alone, he delivered seven goals and four assists in 40 appearances, via Transfermarkt.

Pino (0.33) outranked the French dynamo (0.28) for expected goals per 90 and for goal-creating actions per 90 (by 0.02) in 2021/22, via FBref. But it's defensively that could appeal most to manager Mikel Arteta as he likes to see his wingers track back for defensive support.

Also per FBref, Pino recorded more tackles (1.67 per 90), more successful pressures (3.98 per 90) and more interceptions (1.08 per 90) than the Leverkusen wide man.

Meanwhile, in LaLiga alone, he ranked inside the top 2% for shots on target, the top 5% for goals per shot and the top 10% for non-penalty expected goals and assists when compared to fellow wingers in the division, so he can more than hold his own in the attack at such a young age.

Diaby doesn't even seem available for a transfer this window, so it would make sense to push ahead with the idea of signing Pino, though Edu and co will need to act fast as they have less than two weeks to complete their business.

On the above evidence, the 19-year-old sensation could be a far better option than the 23-year-old.

AND in other news, Arteta could unearth his own Salah in Arsenal swoop for “electrifying” £59m dynamo...