Mikel Arteta is reportedly interested in Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Matheus Cunha, who has idolized a former Arsenal star.
The Gunners currently sit third in the Premier League, nine points behind leaders Liverpool, despite an impressive first half of the 2024/25 season. However, one key position that Arteta is noticeably lacking in is a true striker.
Attacking midfielder Kai Havertz currently leads the pack in league goals for North London, with seven from 17 games, while now-injured winger Bukayo Saka follows closely behind with five. That is a far cry from the seventeen goals that top scorer Mohamed Salah has scored for Liverpool.
Gabriel Jesus has struggled to find his feet under Arteta since signing a £45million contract from Manchester City in July 2022, with the 27-year-old scoring just 25 goals in 92 appearances for Arsenal – including five in the current campaign. . And should Arsenal be hoping to lift their first Premier League trophy since 2004, they may want to invest in a proven striker to help them along the way.
As reported by the Telegraph, Arsenal are reportedly exploring the prospect of landing Wolves talisman Cunha in the January window, although a successful move could prove expensive. A report earlier this month claimed that the Molineux hierarchy would only be willing to sell the Brazilian for a price tag of around £58million, with Cunha still under contract until July 2027.
The 25-year-old has impressed in the Premier League this year despite Wolves finishing 17th in the table, scoring 10 goals in 19 games. Cunha has been compared in the past to the likes of Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp by pundit Ashley Williams, who said after his goal against Fulham earlier this season: “He's such a strong runner, what a touch that is, a few touches actually .” .
“Great pass [from Lemina]that's a sublime pass. This is Dennis Bergkamp-esque. Two touches and a finish, that's what you want to see when you watch a football match.” However, Arsenal are not the only club thought to be interested in Cunha, with Manchester United also said to be looking for the signature of the Brazilian, also currently battling for a natural goalscorer.
Wolves boss Vitor Pereira has also underlined his intention to keep Cunha at the Molineux, despite reported interest from numerous clubs. He started his professional football career in 2017 with Swiss side Sion, before being signed by RB Leipzig the following year.
After two years with the Bundesliga challengers, he moved to Hertha BSC in 2020, before moving to Atletico Madrid a year later. Cunha joined Wolves on loan in January 2023, before the Midlands club made the move permanent that summer – and he has continued to impress ever since.
In international football, Cunha has also represented Brazil 11 times, and while he has previously noted that compatriot Ronaldinho is his idol, Arsenal legend Lukas Podolski is also a player he has looked up to in the past – despite being a fan of him. made you cry. after Germany's performance at the 2014 World Cup.
Speaking to Bundesliga.com in 2019, Cunha explained: “Ronaldinho is undoubtedly a big idol. It's hard to talk about him because he is my friend. He is definitely a great person who has treated me very well. I wish him all the best and he deserves it.” As far as Bundesliga players go, I really like Podolski.
“He destroyed the Brazilian national team when he went there and became world champion, and I cried a lot then. But he seems to have a lot of affection from the Brazilians to this day. He always plays and jokes with Flamengo. I believe that Podolski is a German player with a great personality, both on and off the pitch.”
Brazil were famously humiliated by Germany in the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup and were sent packing after a 7-1 defeat to the European powers on home soil. Thomas Müller opened the scoring for Germany eleven minutes into the match, before Miroslav Klose hit a double play twelve minutes later.
Toni Kroos scored with goals in the 24th and 26th minutes, before Sami Khedira made it 5-0 in the 29th. Andre Schurrle scored two himself in the second half to comfortably guide Brazil through to the final of the tournament, an impeccable performance if not for Oscar's consolation goal in the 90th minute after the end of the match.
Germany won the World Cup that year, after beating Argentina 1-0 in the final of the competition. Mario Götze made the difference in that match, scoring in extra time to secure the coveted trophy for his country.
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