Arsenal Pursues Antonio Nusa to Reinforce Left Flank

Mikel Arteta’s rebuild of Arsenal’s attack is gathering pace, and the focus is clear: the left wing needs new blood, and it needs it fast.

Leandro Trossard’s departure to Besiktas has ripped a chunk of experience and end-product from Arsenal’s frontline. It leaves Gabriel Martinelli as the only established natural option on that side. For a team defending a Premier League title and preparing for another season on multiple fronts, that is nowhere near enough.

So Arsenal are moving – and they are moving aggressively.

Arsenal step into Nusa battle

The latest target is Antonio Nusa, the RB Leipzig winger whose stock has rocketed since a standout 2026 World Cup. According to emerging reports, Arsenal are preparing an opening bid of around €40 million (£34 million) for the Norway international.

It is a bold first move, but not one without complications.

Leipzig are said to value the 21-year-old closer to €60 million (£52 million). That gap is significant, especially with Liverpool already circling and seeing Nusa as a more attainable option after their attempt to land Yan Diomande, another Leipzig talent, fell apart.

This is not a quiet negotiation in the shadows. It is a straight fight between two of England’s heavyweights for one of Europe’s most intriguing young wide forwards.

World Cup breakout fuels demand

Nusa did not just ride the wave of a good tournament. He helped create it.

For Norway, he played a central role in their run to the quarter-finals, showcasing the kind of fearlessness that catches the eye of elite clubs. His solo goal against Ivory Coast – a burst of acceleration, a slalom through defenders, and a ruthless finish – felt like a statement. A moment that shifts a player from “talented prospect” to “must-track asset” on recruitment boards.

Arsenal’s interest makes sense in that context. So does Liverpool’s. Both clubs want more pace, more directness, more chaos in wide areas. Nusa offers exactly that.

What Nusa brings to Arteta’s attack

Arteta has built a side that can suffocate opponents with structure and control. What Nusa offers is disruption.

Explosive acceleration. Aggressive, one-on-one dribbling. A winger who wants to isolate full-backs and go at them again and again. At 21, he is still raw in some areas, but the tools are there for a top-level wide forward.

At Arsenal, he would not arrive as a guaranteed starter ahead of Martinelli. He would arrive as a challenger. Someone who can rotate, stretch games from the bench, and grow into a long-term pillar of the attack.

For a squad that needs both depth and a touch of unpredictability, that profile is invaluable.

Why Nusa doesn’t end the Rogers chase

Even if Arsenal land Nusa, the work on the left side should not stop there.

Morgan Rogers remains firmly on the radar, and with good reason. The Aston Villa attacker brings something Nusa cannot yet match: Premier League experience and proven versatility. Rogers can operate off the left or slide into a central role behind the striker, giving Arteta more tactical flexibility when he tweaks his system.

In a perfect scenario for Arsenal, both deals get done.

Rogers would walk in as a player ready to impact the starting XI immediately, with the physicality and game understanding already tested in England’s top flight. Nusa would arrive as the high-upside project, pushing Martinelli and offering a different flavour of threat from the same side.

Two signings. One position transformed.

Depth for a title defence

The demands on Arsenal this season will be brutal. Defending a Premier League crown while navigating Europe and domestic cups requires more than a strong XI; it demands a bench that can change games and cover injuries without a drop-off.

Right now, the left flank is a risk. Strip away Trossard and the margin for error shrinks sharply.

Add Rogers and Nusa, and the picture changes. Arteta would have three distinct left-sided options, all with different strengths, all capable of starting big games. It is the kind of depth title-winning squads take for granted.

The money will be heavy. The negotiations with Leipzig will be awkward. Liverpool will not step aside quietly.

But if Arsenal are serious about staying on top, this is the sort of fight they have to win.